[Minimally invasive pediatric surgery]

Intraoperative Regional Cerebral Oxygenation During Pediatric Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review

Background: Ventilating a pediatric patient during thoracoscopy is challenging. Few studies have highlighted the impact of capnothorax in children by measuring regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rcSO2) with near infrared spectroscopy. In this systematic review, we aimed to summarize the data from relevant studies and assess whether thoracoscopy in children is associated with intraoperative pathological cerebral desaturation. Methods: The authors systematically searched four databases for relevant studies on the measurement of rcSO2 during pediatric thoracoscopic procedures. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with pathological desaturation, that is, >20% decline in the intraoperative rcSO2. Risk of bias among the included studies was estimated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results: The systematic search resulted in 776 articles, of which 7 studies were included in the analysis. In total, 88 patients (99 procedures) with an age ranging from 0 days to 8.1 years were included. Of these, 43 (49%) patients were neonates. The included cohort had esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (n = 26), long-gap esophageal atresia (n = 5), congenital diaphragmatic hernia (n = 14), and congenital pulmonary airway malformations and other conditions needing lung resection (n = 43). Of the total 99 procedures, pathological desaturation was noticed in 13 (13.1%, 95% confidence interval 7.2-21.4) of them. Upon quality assessment, most of the studies were weaker in the selection and comparability domains. Conclusion: In this review, pathological cerebral desaturation was noticed in 13.1% of the pediatric thoracoscopic procedures. However, due to limited methodological quality of the included studies, further randomized multicentric studies comparing rcSO2 in open versus thoracoscopic surgeries are needed to derive definitive conclusions.

Transanal Endoscopic-Assisted Pull-Through Colectomy for Children with High Intestinal Aganglionosis

Intestinal aganglionosis in children is a common cause of neonatal and infantile obstruction or ileus. Diagnosis is based on a histologically proven absence of enteric ganglion cells in deep biopsies of the gut wall. Therapeutic goal is a one-stage repair with a resection of the affected segment. The endorectal pull-through (ERP) can be performed entirely transanally in a lot of the cases. In patients with difficult preparation or a high aganglionosis ERP often needs to be assisted by laparoscopy or laparotomy. We present two cases with a technical modification performing a totally transanal pull-through colectomy without any trocars other than an umbilical camera trocar. The procedure starts with a classical endorectal technique. Usually, the transanal preparation is limited by reaching the colon descendens. A camera trocar is inserted and under laparoscopic vision the preparation is completed placing the instruments directly via the opened anus. After reaching the healthy colon segment, the pull-through is completed transanally. One of the main advantages of ERP is the sparing dissection. Our modification combines advantages of laparoscopy and ERP. The umbilical camera allows an excellent view while the instruments for dissection are used like with ERP without any further trocar or traction of the anal sphincter. The dispensation of any transanal trocar allows a higher grade of freedom in preparation and possibly a smaller trauma on the distal anal channel.

Neonatal brain oxygenation during thoracoscopic correction of esophageal atresia

Background

Little is known about the effects of carbon dioxide (CO₂) insufflation on cerebral oxygenation during thoracoscopy in neonates. Near-infrared spectroscopy can measure perioperative brain oxygenation [regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO₂)].

Aims

To evaluate the effects of CO₂ insufflation on rScO₂ during thoracoscopic esophageal atresia (EA) repair.

Methods

This is an observational study during thoracoscopic EA repair with 5 mmHg CO₂ insufflation pressure. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂), partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (paCO₂), pH, and rScO₂ were monitored in 15 neonates at seven time points: baseline (T0), after anesthesia induction (T1), after CO₂-insufflation (T2), before CO₂-exsufflation (T3), and postoperatively at 6 (T4), 12 (T5), and 24 h (T6).

Results

MABP remained stable. SaO₂ decreased from T0 to T2 [97 ± 3–90 ± 6 % (p < 0.01)]. PaCO₂ increased from T0 to T2 [41 ± 6–54 ± 15 mmHg (p < 0.01)]. pH decreased from T0 to T2 [7.33 ± 0.04–7.25 ± 0.11 (p < 0.05)]. All parameters recovered during the surgical course. Mean rScO₂ was significantly higher at T1 compared to T2 [77 ± 10–73 ± 7 % (p < 0.05)]. Mean rScO₂ levels never dropped below a safety threshold of 55 %.

Conclusion

The impact of neonatal thoracoscopic repair of EA with insufflation of CO₂ at 5 mmHg was studied. Intrathoracic CO₂ insufflation caused a reversible decrease in SaO₂ and pH and an increase in paCO₂. The rScO₂ was higher at anesthesia induction but remained stable and within normal limits during and after the CO₂ pneumothorax, which suggest no hampering of cerebral oxygenation by the thoracoscopic intervention. Future studies will focus on the long-term effects of this surgery on the developing brain.

Brain oxygenation during laparoscopic correction of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

BACKGROUND

Concern remains about the safety of carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum (PP) in young infants having surgery for pyloric stenosis via laparoscopy. Interests here mainly focus on possible jeopardized organ perfusion and in particular brain oxygenation with possible adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the intraoperative effects of CO2 gas PP on cerebral oxygenation during laparoscopic surgery for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in young infants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this single-center prospective observational study, we investigated brain oxygenation in 12 young infants receiving laparoscopic pyloromyotomy with CO2 PP, with a pressure of 8 mm Hg and a flow rate of 5 L/minute. Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and transcranial near-infrared spectroscopy to assess regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) were monitored continuously during the whole procedure. Parameters were analyzed in four intervals: before insufflation (T0), during (start [T1] and end [T2]), and after cessation (T3) of the CO2 PP.

RESULTS

Blood pressure and end-tidal CO2 (etCO2) increased during the procedure: mean arterial pressure, 35±5 mm Hg at T0 to 43±9 mm Hg at T2; etCO2, 35±4 mm Hg at T0 to 40±3 mm Hg at T3. The rScO2 remained stable throughout the whole anesthetic period. In none of the patients did the rScO2 drop below the safety threshold of 55% (rScO2, 68±14% at T0 to 71±9% at T3).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that a laparoscopic procedure with a CO2 PP of 8 mm Hg can be performed under safe anesthetic conditions in the presence of gradually increasing blood pressure and etCO2 without altering regional brain oxygenation levels.

Awake caudals and epidurals should be used more frequently in neonates and infants

The current literature provides fundamental insights regarding the neurotoxic potency of various general anesthetic drugs in neonates and small infants. Therefore, considerations to minimize the use of general anesthetic drugs in this age group are required. The use of caudal and epidural anesthesia under sedation is one possibility to minimize the use of general anesthetic drugs. A large number of surgical procedures can be managed with this anesthetic concept. Training, practical hand skills, good infrastructure, a well-defined indication, and a team approach including the entire operation room staff are the major prerequisites to implement these techniques in the daily clinical practice. This review article discusses all present aspects and possible future evolutions of caudal and epidural anesthesia under sedation.

Open versus laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on major complications

Background

There is an ongoing debate about whether laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP) or open pyloromyotomy (OP) is the best option for treating hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS). The aim of this study was to compare the results of both surgical strategies by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature.

Methods

A systematic search for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing OP and LP was conducted. Studies were reviewed independently for quality, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and outcomes. Primary outcome was major postoperative complications (i.e., incomplete pyloromyotomy, perforation, and need for reoperation). Secondary outcomes were time to full feed, postoperative hospital stay, and any other postoperative complications.

Results

Four RCTs with a total of 502 patients (OP 255, LP 247) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this review. These trials showed an absolute incidence of major postoperative complications of 4.9% in the LP group. Meta-analysis showed that LP did not lead to significantly more major postoperative complications (ARR 3%, 95% CI −3 to 8%) than OP. The mean difference in time to full feed was significant (2.27 h, 95% CI −4.26 to −0.29 h) and the mean difference in postoperative hospital stay tended to be shorter (2.41 h, 95% CI −6.10 to 1.28 h), both in favor of LP.

Conclusion

So far, the major postoperative complication rate after LP for HPS is not substantially higher than after OP. Because time to full feed and postoperative hospital stay are at best a few hours shorter after LP than after OP, the laparoscopic technique might be acknowledged as the standard of care if the major postoperative complication rate is low. Hence, this laparoscopic procedure should preferably be performed in centers with pediatric surgeons with expertise in this procedure.

[Anesthesia for laparoscopic interventions]

Laparoscopic techniques are used in many surgical disciplines and have partially become a standard procedure. Cholecystectomy is performed laparoscopically in 90% of cases. During a pneumoperitoneum changes occur which have a large influence on physiological homeostasis. Furthermore there are specific complications of laparoscopy which can have severe consequences. For adequate management the anesthetist has to be aware of both in order to react in the correct way.