Fluoroscopic balloon dilatation for caustic esophageal stricture in children: an 8-year experience

PURPOSE

Esophageal balloon dilatation (EBD), when performed early and correctly, can efficiently treat caustic esophageal stricture (ES). Herein, we present 8 years of experience treating caustic ES, and discuss the technique as well as the complications.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 38 children in whom we performed fluoroscopic EBD under general anesthesia for caustic ES between November 2004 and November 2012 in our hospitals. The patients were grouped into the early dilatation group, who began EBD earlier (mean, 15 days) after caustic ingestion, and the late dilatation group who was referred later (mean, 34 days) for EBD by other centers. The ESs were classified into short and long strictures. Balloon size was increased gradually to a sufficient diameter over consecutive sessions. Characteristics of patients and ES, details of the EBD, and treatment results were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 369 EBD sessions were successfully performed in 38 children (aged 14 months to 14 years, median 3.5 years). In six patients, EBD treatments are continuing, one patient was lost to follow up, one patient who received a stent was excluded, and three returned to their previous centers. The remaining 27 patients were treated successfully by repeated EBD treatments. Nevertheless, in the early dilatation group (n=16), EBD treatment was significantly faster and shorter than that in the late dilatation group (n=11). In addition, the short stricture treatment was also of significantly shorter duration than the long stricture treatment. Six (1.6%) esophageal perforations occurred in five patients (13.2%); all were treated conservatively. There was no mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

For treatment of caustic ES, fluoroscopically guided EBD is safe and has a low rate of complications as well as a 100% success rate. However, it should be begun earlier, and in children, should be performed gently with balloons of gradually increasing appropriate diameters over consecutive sessions.

Caustic oesophagitis in children: prevalence, the corrosive agents involved, and management from primary care through to surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Caustic substance ingestion (CSI) remains a major health issue, particularly in developing countries, where laws are not effectively enforced. This review offers a thorough analysis of the current epidemiology, clinical features, management, treatment, and long-term complications of CSI in children.

RECENT FINDINGS

Strong alkalis sold in liquid and granular forms, particularly crystalline grease cleaners (concentrated sodium hydroxide), are the principal causes of severe oesophageal damage. Currently, early endoscopy to assess the gastro-oesophageal mucosa is not considered necessary for all CSI cases. Oesophageal stricture is a major complication developing after CSI, and should be diagnosed and treated earlier, 10-14 days after CSI via commencement of a dilation program. Fluoroscopically guided oesophageal balloon dilatation seems to be safe, with a low frequency of complications and a high success rate. However, it should commence earlier than is currently the case, and should be performed gently, using balloons of gradually increasing diameter. If dilation fails after a few months, oesophageal replacement surgery should be performed.

SUMMARY

Unfortunately, neither dilatation treatment nor oesophageal bypass surgery can prevent the development of oesophageal carcinoma, the incidence of which is high after CSI. The continuing unacceptably high incidence of CSI accidents would be reduced if corrosive materials were sold in their original childproof containers, highlighting the need for preventive and adult education programmes.

Peripherally inserted central catheter in neonates: A safe and easy insertion technique

PURPOSE

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are used extensively in neonates. However, insertion of these thinnest catheters is a very delicate procedure. We developed an easy and safe insertion technique for 2-French (F) PICCs with a new fine-tipped introducer cannula created without modifying commercial products by advancing a 24-gauge peripheral venous cannula through a half-peeled (20-gauge) introducer cannula. We evaluated neonates treated with our new PICC insertion technique.

METHODS

Information was collected retrospectively on all 32 2-F PICCs inserted during the 4-year period from November 2010 to November 2014. We monitored neonates, recording the success rate of placement, number of insertion attempts, reasons for removal, and complications.

RESULTS

In total, 32 2-F PICCs were placed in 31 patients (19 (61%) males and 12 (39%) females; median age 7 (range: 1-36) days, median weight 2200 (range: 800-4100) g) using the new technique. The vein accessed most commonly was the long saphenous vein (87%). The duration of catheterization was 10.3 ± 4.2 days. Almost all PICCs were inserted successfully (32/33, success rate 97%) and in the first venipuncture (28/32, 88%). Of the PICCs, 81% were removed after completion of therapy or upon death. Two minor bleeding complications were noted at the insertion site.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel technique is an easy and safe way of inserting a 2-F PICC in neonates. It can be used by anyone in a neonatal unit who can insert a 24-gauge peripheral venous access.

Magnetic compression gastrostomy in the rat

PURPOSE

Magnetic compression anastomosis is used for gastrointestinal, biliary, and urinary anastomoses. We have developed a simple magnetic compression gastrostomy technique in rats.

METHODS

Animals were randomized into two groups (n = 12 each): magnetic gastrostomy (MG) and surgical gastrostomy (SG) (control). In the MG group, a magnetic insertion catheter was coupled with the first magnetic ball and introduced transorally into the stomach. A second magnetic ball was placed subcutaneously into the left upper quadrant. The two magnetic balls (4 mm) were strongly coupled together. On postoperative day (PD) 20 (MG group) and PD10 (SG group), rats were killed, gastrostomies were evaluated macroscopically and histopathologically, and mechanical burst testing was performed.

RESULTS

Two animals died due to suspected leaks. Macroscopic evaluation indicated no gastrostomy canal in one rat in each group. Mild adhesion was observed in two rats in the MG group. Moderate adhesion was observed in all rats in the SG group. No significant differences were observed in burst pressure between the two groups (means: MG group, 143 mmHg, n = 9; SG group, 159 mmHg, n = 8).

CONCLUSIONS

Magnetic compression gastrostomy can be performed easily in rats, and may be developed in future as a simple alternative to some gastrostomy procedures in humans.

Corrosive ingestion managements in children

Corrosive (caustic) material ingestion remains a major health issue, particularly in developing countries. The management strategy after corrosive ingestion should be planned according to the signs and symptoms. The management of corrosive ingestion based on endoscopic grading, nothing by mouth, and barium studies should be abandoned. With the new management protocol, esophageal stricture can be predicted with high accuracy using the simple new prognostic DROOL score (≤ 4) rather than endoscopic grading, reduced by immediate oral feeding as soon as the patient can swallow saliva instead of nothing by mouth, diagnosed earlier (10-14 days) by fluoro-endoscopic balloon-assisted esophageal examination for patients with persistent dysphagia instead of relying on a barium study (≥ 21 days), and adequately treated by initiating balloon dilation earlier during the same anesthesia procedure. Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilatation with large balloons (18-20 mm) seems to be safe, with a low frequency of complications and a high success rate. If dilatation fails after a few months, esophagectomy and replacement surgery using the stomach should be considered. The increased risk of developing esophageal carcinoma after ingestion of corrosive substances should be kept in mind.

Esophageal transplantation in the rat

PURPOSE

Esophageal replacement surgery has been used to treat long-gap esophageal atresia, caustic esophageal stricture, and esophageal avulsion. Here, we report total esophageal transplantation in rats without vascular anastomosis as an option for esophageal replacement surgery.

METHODS

Fourteen total segments of esophageal transplants were harvested from 24-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats using a harvesting procedure. The segments were transplanted through the mediastinum in the esophageal bed of 15-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats without adjacent vascular anastomosis using the transhiatal pull-up technique. The ends of the transplanted esophagus were ostomized using cervical and abdominal esophagostomies. An immunosuppressive-treated (IT) group (n = 7) received cyclosporine and cotrimoxazole for 10 days, while an untreated (UT) group (n = 7) received only cotrimoxazole for 10 days. On post-operative day 10, the rats were sacrificed, and the transplant and recipient esophagi were evaluated macroscopically and histopathologically.

RESULTS

All transplantations were successful and all transplanted rats survived. Upon macroscopic evaluation, no evidence of complications was observed and all transplanted esophagi in the two groups appeared to exhibit excellent firm tissue; however, mild necrosis was observed in the cervical end of the transplant in one rat in the IT group. Histopathologic examination showed a viable esophageal structure in all rats. Inflammation and muscular atrophy were lower in the IT group than in the UT group, whereas vascularity was higher in the IT group than in the UT group.

CONCLUSION

Total esophageal transplantation was performed directly without vascular anastomosis into recipients in a rat model. This procedure should be done in larger animal models before being attempted in humans.

Dilated ureter for esophageal substitution: a preliminary experimental study in the rat

BACKGROUND

Esophageal replacement using digestive organs such as the colon, stomach, or jejunum has been used to treat long-gap esophageal atresia and caustic esophageal strictures. Nevertheless, it presents a major challenge. Here, we report a preliminary experimental study that examined the use of a free dilated ureter as an option for esophageal substitution in a transplantation rat model.

METHODS

Ten 28-week-old male donor rats underwent distal ureteral ligation for 4 weeks, and the total dilated ureters were recovered. In each of the ten recipient 20-week-old male rats, a ureter was transplanted through the mediastinum into the esophageal bed, without vascular anastomosis. All rats received cyclosporine and cotrimoxazole for 10 days. On postoperative day 10, the rats were sacrificed, and the transplanted ureters were evaluated macroscopically and histopathologically.

RESULTS

All procedures were achieved. In the early postoperative period, three transplanted rats died. Upon macroscopic evaluation, no evidence of complications was observed, and all transplanted ureters exhibited apparently good firm tissue. Histopathological examination showed a viable ureteral structure with good vascularity, low inflammation, and regenerated epithelium in all rats.

CONCLUSION

As an option for esophageal substitution, heterotopic ureteral transplantation can be performed directly into the mediastinal location of the esophagus, without vascular anastomosis in a rat model. In the future, free dilated ureters might be useful for esophageal grafting or patching in humans; however, this procedure must be validated in additional large animal models before being attempted in humans.

Magnetic compression ostomy for simple tube colostomy in rats--magnacolostomy

BACKGROUND

Magnetic compression anastomoses (magnamosis) have been previously described for gastrointestinal, biliary, urinary, and vascular anastomoses. Objectives. Herein, the authors report the creation of a magnetic compression colostomy (magnacolostomy) using a simple technique in rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Animals were randomized into two groups (n = 8, each): a magnetic colostomy (MC) group and a control surgical tube colostomy (SC) group. In the MC group, the first magnetic ball (3 mm) was rectally introduced into the rat colon. The second magnetic ball (4 mm) was placed subcutaneously into the left quadrant, and the two magnetic balls strongly coupled. On postoperative day 20 for the MC group and postoperative day 10 in the SC group, the rats were sacrificed and the colostomies evaluated macroscopically, histopathologically, and for mechanical burst testing.

RESULTS

From the macroscopic evaluation, two rats failed to form the colostomy canal due to colostomy catheter and magnetic ball removal. In the remaining rats, evidence of complications were not observed. Two rats in the MC group displayed mild adhesion and all rats in the SC group displayed moderate adhesion. No significant differences between the burst pressures were observed. However, a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the procedure times of the MC (4.13 +/- 1.00 minutes) and SC groups (14.25 +/- 2.05 minutes) was evident.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnacolostomy is an easy and effective procedure in the rat model and presents a safe, minimally invasive alternative to current tube colostomy procedures such as antegrade continence enemas, percutaneous endoscopic, and colostomy/cecostomy in humans.