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Quinn V, Luks F, Constantine E. Infected Urachal Cyst Masquerading as Acute Appendicitis on Point-of-care Ultrasound. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med 2022; 6:186-188. [PMID: 35701355 PMCID: PMC9197745 DOI: 10.5811/cpcem.2022.1.55243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CASE PRESENTATION A seven-year-old male presented to the pediatric emergency department with one day of abdominal pain. His physical exam was significant for rebound, guarding, and tenderness in the right lower quadrant, and his labs demonstrated a leukocytosis. Both a point-of-care ultrasound and radiology-performed ultrasound were concerning for acute appendicitis with a periappendiceal abscess, but on emergent laparoscopy the patient was found to have an infected urachal cyst. DISCUSSION Infected urachal remnants are a rare but important cause of pediatric abdominal pain. In this case, inflammation surrounding the patient’s midline urachal cyst triggered a serositis that involved the appendix and pulled the cyst to the right. This created a clinical and radiologic presentation similar to appendicitis. This atypical presentation of an already rare anomaly highlights the importance of maintaining a broad differential during the work-up of pediatric abdominal pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Quinn
- Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Francois Luks
- Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Erika Constantine
- Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island
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Nicolas CT, Lynch-Salamon D, Bendel-Stenzel E, Tibesar R, Luks F, Eyerly-Webb S, Lillegard JB. Fetoscopy-Assisted Percutaneous Decompression of the Distal Trachea and Lungs Reverses Hydrops Fetalis and Fetal Distress in a Fetus with Laryngeal Atresia. Fetal Diagn Ther 2019; 46:75-80. [PMID: 31238308 DOI: 10.1159/000500455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We present a case of prenatal hydrops secondary to congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) that was treated with fetoscopy-assisted needle decompression. A 22-year-old G3P2 woman presented after a 21-week ultrasound demonstrated CHAOS. The fetus developed hydrops at 25 weeks, characterized by abdominal ascites, pericardial effusion, and scalp edema. Fetal MRI showed complete obstruction of the glottis and subglottic airway, suggestive of laryngeal atresia. At 27 weeks, due to the progression of the hydrops, operative fetoscopy was proposed and performed. Fetal laryngoscopy confirmed fusion of the vocal cords and laryngeal atresia. The atretic segment was a solid cartilaginous block, preventing intubation. Using the fetoscope to stabilize the fetal head and neck, we performed ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle drainage of the cervical trachea through the anterior fetal neck. We removed 17 mL of viscous fluid from the lower trachea, resulting in immediate lung decompression. Two weeks later, ultrasound confirmed hydrops resolution. The patient was delivered and tracheostomy performed at 30 weeks via an ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure after progression of preterm labor. At 27 days of life, the infant was stable on minimal ventilator support. To our knowledge, this is the first successful report of an ultrasound-guided percutaneous tracheal decompression through the anterior neck of a fetus with CHAOS secondary to laryngeal atresia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara T Nicolas
- Children's Hospital of Minnesota, Midwest Fetal Care Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Mayo Clinic, Division of Surgery Research, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - David Lynch-Salamon
- Children's Hospital of Minnesota, Midwest Fetal Care Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ellen Bendel-Stenzel
- Children's Hospital of Minnesota, Midwest Fetal Care Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Minnesota Neonatal Physicians, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Robert Tibesar
- Children's Hospital of Minnesota, Midwest Fetal Care Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Francois Luks
- Hasbro Children's Hospital and The Fetal Treatment Program of New England, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Stephanie Eyerly-Webb
- Children's Hospital of Minnesota, Midwest Fetal Care Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph B Lillegard
- Children's Hospital of Minnesota, Midwest Fetal Care Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, .,Mayo Clinic, Division of Surgery Research, Rochester, Minnesota, USA, .,Pediatric Surgical Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA,
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Berman L, Kabre R, Kazak A, Hicks B, Luks F. Exposure to prenatal consultation during pediatric surgery residency: Implications for training. J Pediatr Surg 2016; 51:131-6. [PMID: 26572848 PMCID: PMC5656053 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2015.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Prenatal consultation is an important skill that should be learned during pediatric surgery training, but there are no formal guidelines for fellowship programs at this time. We sought to characterize the fellowship experience of recent pediatric surgery graduates and assess preparedness for providing prenatal consultation. METHODS An anonymous online survey of pediatric surgery fellows graduating in 2012 and 2013 was performed. We asked respondents to describe participation in prenatal consultation and preparedness to perform consultation. We measured demographics and fellowship characteristics and tested associations between these variables and preparedness to perform prenatal consultation. RESULTS A total of 49 out of 80 fellows responded to the survey (61% response rate). Most respondents (55%) saw five or fewer prenatal consults during fellowship, and 20% had not seen any prenatal consults. 47% said that fellowship could have better prepared them to perform prenatal consults. Fellows who saw more than 5 prenatal consults during fellowship (33% vs 77%, p=0.002) or described their fellowship as being structured to facilitate participation in prenatal consults (83% vs 27%, p<0.0001) were more likely to feel prepared. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that after adjusting for covariates, fellows graduating from programs that were 1) structured to facilitate participation in prenatal consults (OR 18, 95% CI 3.7-86.7), or 2) did NOT have an established fetal program (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.1-27.8) were more likely to feel prepared. CONCLUSION Exposure to prenatal consultation varies greatly across pediatric surgery fellowships, and many recent graduates do not feel prepared to perform prenatal consultation. The presence of an established fetal program did not necessarily translate into improved fellow training. Efforts should be made to standardize the approach to fellow education in this area and ensure that adequate guidance and resources are available to recently graduated pediatric surgeons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren Berman
- Nemours-A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Dept of Surgery, 1600 Rockland Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803.
| | - Rashmi Kabre
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Chicago IL
| | - Anne Kazak
- Nemours-AI DuPont Hospital for Children, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science, Wilmington DE
| | - Barry Hicks
- Nemours-A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Department of Surgery, Wilmington DE
| | - Francois Luks
- Hasbro Children's Hospital, Department of Surgery, Providence RI
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Maggio L, Carr S, Watson-Smith D, O'Brien B, Lopes V, Muratore C, Luks F. 125: Iatrogenic preterm premature rupture of membranes after fetoscopic laser ablative surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.10.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Marsit CJ, Koestler DC, Watson-Smith D, Boney CM, Padbury JF, Luks F. Developmental genes targeted for epigenetic variation between twin-twin transfusion syndrome children. Clin Epigenetics 2013; 5:18. [PMID: 24090360 PMCID: PMC4016001 DOI: 10.1186/1868-7083-5-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic mechanisms are thought to be critical in mediating the role of the intrauterine environment on lifelong health and disease. Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a rare condition wherein fetuses share the placenta and develop vascular anastomoses, which allow blood to flow between the fetuses. The unequal flow results in reciprocal hypo- and hypervolemia in the affected twins, striking growth differences and physiologic adaptations in response to this significant stressor. The donor twin in the TTTS syndrome can be profoundly growth restricted and there is likely a nutritional imbalance between the twins. The consequences of TTTS on fetal programming are unknown. This condition can now be effectively treated through the use of fetal laparoscopic procedures, but the potential for lifelong morbidity related to this condition during development is apparent. As this condition and the resulting uteroplacental discordance can play a role in the epigenetic process, we sought to investigate the DNA methylation profiles of childhood survivors of TTTS (n = 14). We focused on differences in both global measures and genome-wide CpG specific DNA methylation between donor and recipient children in this pilot study in order to generate hypotheses for further research. RESULTS We identified significant hypomethylation of the LINE1 repetitive element in the peripheral blood of donor children and subtle variation in the genome-wide profiles of CpG specific methylation most prominent at CpG sites which are targets for polycomb group repressive complexes. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that coordinated epigenetic alterations result from the intrauterine environment experienced by infants with TTTS and may, at least in part, be responsible for downstream health conditions experienced by individuals surviving this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen J Marsit
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geisel Medical School at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
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Hui L, Wick HC, Moise KJ, Johnson A, Luks F, Haeri S, Johnson KL, Bianchi DW. Global gene expression analysis of amniotic fluid cell-free RNA from recipient twins with twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Prenat Diagn 2013; 33:873-83. [PMID: 23640821 DOI: 10.1002/pd.4150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to understand the biological pathways involved in twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) by performing global gene expression analysis of amniotic fluid (AF) cell-free RNA. METHODS A prospective whole transcriptome microarray study analyzing cell-free RNA in AF from TTTS recipient twins and singleton controls was carried out. Significantly differentially regulated genes in TTTS cases (N = 8) versus matched controls (N = 8) were identified and pathways analyses performed. Significant gene expression differences between stage II TTTS recipients (N = 5) and stage III TTTS recipients with abnormal Doppler measurements (N = 5) were also analyzed. RESULTS Analysis of paired data from TTTS cases and controls revealed differential expression of 801 genes, which were significantly enriched for neurological disease and cardiovascular system pathways. We also identified cardiovascular genes and pathways associated with the presence of critically abnormal Doppler measurements in stage III TTTS recipients. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first transcriptome-wide data on the impact of TTTS on fetal development. Our results show that gene expression involving neurological and cardiovascular pathways are altered in recipient fetuses prior to surgical treatment. This has relevance for the origins of long-term complications seen in survivors and for the development of future fetal biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Hui
- Mother Infant Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
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Petersen S, Lewi P, Diemert A, Lewi L, Dickinson J, Pennell C, Luks F, Hecher K, Gardener G, Deprest J. 417: Fetoscopic entry technique affects the rate of preterm membrane rupture and preterm birth before 32 weeks. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.10.583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
Advanced small cell carcinoma of the ovary is very aggressive tumor with an overall poor prognosis. The authors describe an 11-year-old girl who presented with advanced-stage disease. She was treated with gross total surgical resection and multiagent chemotherapy and remains free of disease more than 2.5 years from diagnosis. The treatment regimen is discussed in detail and was well tolerated, with minimal toxicity. This is the first case report of a pediatric patient with advanced-stage disease to achieve long-term survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselle L Saulnier Sholler
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Bussey JG, Luks F, Carr SR, Plevyak M, Tracy TF. Minimal-access fetal surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Surg Endosc 2003; 18:83-6. [PMID: 14625725 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-003-8179-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2003] [Accepted: 07/21/2003] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laser ablation of placental vessels effectively halts severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), but fetal surgery remains a dangerous approach. The authors present the technical aspects of endoscopic fetal surgery in their initial clinical experience. METHODS Altogether, 11 women underwent endoscopic fetal surgery for severe TTTS. Access to the recipient's sac was obtained by the Seldinger technique via minilaparotomy. A 12-Fr peel-away introducer was used as a cannula to accommodate a custom-curved 9-Fr sheath containing a 1.9-mm semirigid fiber endoscope. Laser ablation was performed on all unpaired vessels crossing the intertwin membrane using a 400- micro m neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd: YAG) fiber. The cannula was removed over a gelatin sponge plug. RESULTS The median operating time was 65 min (range, 45-105 min). No patient experienced amniotic leak postoperatively. The length of hospital stay was 2.8 +/- 1.6 days. Immediate improvement of the TTTS was noted in all but two patients. Pneumonia developed, in one mother leading to premature labor. There were no other major surgical complications. Fetal survival at 2 weeks was 73%. CONCLUSIONS The safety and efficacy of endoscopic fetal surgery for severe TTTS can be optimized with the application of current minimal-access techniques. The superiority of this approach over less invasive means is still being evaluated through prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Bussey
- Program in Fetal Medicine, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Brown Medical School, 2 Dudley Street, Suite 180, Providence, RI 02905, USA
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