Pneumothorax in a term newborn

With the advent of surfactant and gentle ventilation, the incidence of neonatal pneumothorax has decreased over the last two decades. Pneumothorax associated with respiratory distress syndrome is more common in preterm infants, but term infants often present with isolated pneumothorax. The use of CPAP or non-invasive respiratory support in the delivery room for a term infant with respiratory distress increases transpulmonary pressures and increases the risk of pneumothorax. Prompt diagnosis with a high index of suspicion, quick evaluation by transillumination, chest X-ray or lung ultrasound is critical. Management includes observation, needle thoracocentesis and if necessary, chest tube placement. This manuscript reviews the incidence, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of a term infant with isolated pneumothorax, summarizing the combination of established knowledge with new understanding, including data on diagnostic modes such as ultrasound, reviewing preventative measures, and therapeutic interventions such as needle thoracocentesis and a comparison of pigtail vs. straight chest tubes.

Loss of muscle mass: a significant predictor of postoperative complications in acute diverticulitis

BACKGROUND

Severe muscle mass depletion, sarcopenia, has been shown to be associated with poor operative outcomes. However, its impact on emergency abdominal operations remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between low muscle mass (LMM) and outcomes after emergency operations for acute diverticulitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients ≥18 y requiring an emergency operation for acute diverticulitis between January 2007 and September 2014 were included. On preoperative computed tomography, the cross-sectional area (CSA) and transverse diameter (TVD) of the right and left psoas muscle were measured at the level of the third lumbar vertebral body. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine appropriate CSA and TVD cutoff values defining low skeletal muscle mass. Clinical outcomes of patients with low muscle mass (LMM group) were compared with the non-LMM group.

RESULTS

A total of 89 patients met our inclusion criteria. Median CSA and TVD were 794 mm² and 24 mm, respectively. There was a strong correlation between the CSA and TVD (R² = 0.84). In univariable analysis, significantly higher rates of postoperative major complications (63% versus 37%, P = 0.027) and surgical site infection (47% versus 19%, P = 0.008) were identified in the LMM group. After adjusting for clinically important covariates in a logistic regression model, patients with LMM were significantly associated with higher odds of major complications and surgical site infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative assessment of the psoas muscle CSA and TVD on computed tomography can be a practical method for identifying patients at risk for postoperative complications.

Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on resectability of stage III and IV hepatoblastoma

Background

The potential for surgical resection of primary hepatoblastoma tumours was assessed at diagnosis, and after two and four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

Available radiographic images for patients with stage III and IV hepatoblastoma diagnosed between 1991 and 2008 were reviewed. The extent of disease was determined at diagnosis using the PRETEXT staging system, and after two and four cycles of therapy by POST-TEXT staging. Tumour resectability based on radiographic studies was assessed independently by two surgeons with expertise in hepatic surgery who were blinded to treatment and clinical outcome.

Results

Radiographic images from 20 patients with hepatoblastoma were reviewed. Six of 20 tumours were downstaged after two cycles, and three additional tumours were downstaged following four cycles. All PRETEXT stage III and IV tumours were determined to be surgically unresectable at diagnosis. The number of tumours considered unresectable decreased from 16 of 20 at diagnosis to seven of 20 after two cycles, and to four of 20 after four cycles. Five of the seven tumours that were unresectable after two cycles, and all four tumours that were unresectable after four cycles would have qualified for liver transplant based on radiographic studies.

Conclusion

The majority of stage III and IV hepatoblastomas achieved radiographic resectability after two cycles of chemotherapy. There may be an opportunity for earlier surgical intervention and potential for a reduction in chemotherapy in a considerable number of patients.