[Management of complicated Barrett's esophagus. Observational study carried out in a regional hospital]

The incidence of Barrett's esophagus, complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease, is rising in western countries. It is the same for esophageal adenocarcinoma, of which it is the main contributing factor. This retrospective study seeks to report the incidence of these pathologies observed in a regional hospital center and to describe their management. In 5 years, 354 Barrett's esophagus are detected and 34 of them are complicated by high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. Endoscopic resection is performed in 24 of these patients. The histological analysis of which leads to the conclusion of adenocarcinoma in 20 patients and high-grade dysplasia in the 14 others. The complications of endoscopic and surgical resections are detailed. Their frequency and severity remain low, comparable to data in the literature.

[Ovarian teratoma in children. Clinical case and review of the literature]

Summmary : Teratomas are the most common histologic type of germ cell tumors in pediatrics. There are two types of teratomas, mature, benign and immature, malignant. Initial diagnosis is essential for optimal management. This work, based on a clinical case, aims to review the clinical, radiological, biological and histological characteristics allowing them to be differentiated.

[Cervicothoracic neuroblastomas : benefits of transmanubrial osteomuscular-sparing approach]

We report the case of a child suffering from a neonatal cervicomediastinal neuroblastoma encasing the left subclavian artery and the left vertebral artery. There is only a few pediatric tumors extending from the neck to the upper part of the thorax. Because of the complex vascular and neurological anatomy of this area, the surgical excision of these cervicothoracic neuroblastomas is a real challenge. It is why, when we decided to propose a surgical management, we used the Transmanubrial Osteomuscular-Sparing Approach (TOSA), of which technique and benefits will be explained in this article.

[Vulvar mass in neonatal period : spot the difference]

We report the cases of two female newborns who present, at the first day, a interlabial mass. In both cases, the antenatal scans were normal, and the clinical examination in the delivery room didn't reveal any other abnormality. Similar features may suggest the same diagnosis. However, in the first case, it is a paraurethral cyst which causes the bulging of vaginal introitus whereas, in the second infant, it is an imperforated hymen. Paraurethral cysts are uncommon and even more so among infants. The diagnosis is primarily clinical, and ultrasound confirms the diagnosis and verifies the absence of other associated anomalies. These cysts usually resolve spontaneously. Rarely, they can lead to urinary retention. The second diagnosis, imperforate hymen, is the most common congenital malformation of the female genital tract. It can lead to hydrocolpos with the upstream accumulation of vaginal secretion and sometimes induce a hydrometrocolpos, with vaginal and uterine dilatation. The resulting mass can cause obstruction of surrounding urinary or digestive structures. Surgical management is generally necessary.

[The rise of targeted therapies in pediatric oncology]

Cancers are rare pathologies in children. Improvement in survival rates has been obtained thanks to new therapeutic strategies based on the identification of risk factors. Targeted therapies in paediatric oncology are new treatments providing hope that cure is achievable without long-term sequelae.

[Treatment of tracheo(broncho)malacia in children]

Tracheomalacia (TM) is characterized by tracheal collapse due to an intrinsic anomaly resulting in a lack of rigidity of the cartilaginous rings and/or the posterior membrane during expiration, coughing or crying. It may also be secondary to external compression or acquired during endobronchial diseases. TM is commonly associated with other syndromes or airway abnormalities. Tracheomalacia can be localized or diffused and if the main bronchi are involved, the term of tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is used. The most common symptoms include expiratory stridor, barking cough and recurrent respiratory tract infections. If tracheal weakness is severe, Acute Life Threating Events (ALTE) or Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE) can occur. While mild forms usually do not require any treatment, severe TBM may require medical and/or surgical management. Amongst several possible treatments, including tracheostomy, noninvasive ventilation and airway stenting, the pexy surgical approach (posterior, anterior tracheopexy or aortopexy) is currently the favoured option.

[Efficacy of macro-clips for perforations and fistulas following endoscopic or surgical procedures. Retrospective analysis of 25 consecutive cases]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our retrospective study is to analyse the results of endoscopic macro-clips used for closing intestinal breaches in the real life. Post-endoscopic, spontaneous perforations and surgical fistulas are included. Our results are compared with principal published series.

METHODS

Between 2010 and 2015, 25 consecutive patients underwent an endoscopic suture with macro-clips to seal a breach resulting from endoscopic perforation, surgical fistula, invasive medical procedure or spontaneous perforation.

RESULTS

The endoscopic efficacy was immediate for all patients whose perforation was of endoscopic aetiology. None of them required surgery. Secondary complementary endoscopic treatment was only used in 6/25 patients. All of them had non-endoscopic aetiology for their perforation. The survival at 1 month was 84 % and at 3 months of 76 %.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm the high efficiency of macro-clips in the treatment of endoscopic breaches in a regional hospital center. The use of macro-clips seems less convincing for the closure of some postoperative fistula. The suture with macro-clips associated with endoscopic and medical treatments allowed to avoid surgical redo in some cases.

[Juvenil autoimmune myasthenia]

We report the story of an 11-year-old girl admitted to the emergency room for diplopia and divergent squint. Promptly apparead a fluctuating ptosis, a nasal voice and swallowing disorders, evoking the diagnosis of autoimmune myasthenia. The latter has been confirmed with electromyogram. Treatment with corticoids, plasmapheresis and pyridostigmine allowed symptoms control. Thymectomy by left thoracoscopy, non-robot assisted, was performed 6 months after the appearance of the first clinical signs for the purpose of remission.

[Meckel's diverticulum : state of the art]

The persistence of the embryonic vitelline duct can lead to omphalomesenteric duct anomalies. A wide variety of anomalies, depending on the remnant segment and its degree of involution, may occur as a result of the omphalomesenteric duct failing to obliterate completely. The most frequent omphalomesenteric duct anomaly is Meckel's diverticulum, which is present in approximately 2-3 % of the population. Despite the progress in medical imaging, conventional abdominal computed tomography and endoscopy have limitations for the diagnosis of Meckel's diverticulum. The laparoscopic exploratory remains the best choice for diagnosis and treatment.

[A rare cause of cryptorchidism, the persistence of müllerian ducts syndrome]

The Persistent Müllerian Ducts Syndrome (PMDS) is a rare congenital syndrome. It is one of abnormalities of genito-sexual development that is found on the normally virilized boy (46XY). It is characterized by the development of both Wolf structures and Müller duct. The pathophysiology can be explained by an action deficit of the anti-müllerian hormone (AMH). Its clinical presentations vary depending on the localization of the testis and the associated symptoms. Its discovery is mostly fortuitous and generally made in per-operative surgery of cryptorchidism or inguinal hernia. Treatment should be surgical. It relies on two aspects : ensuring the testicular descent and performing the excision of the müllerian duct. The follow-up is identical to the cryptorchid testes and the fertility problems will be influenced by the surgical procedure as well as the timing of the treatment.

[Incidence and treatment of complications observed after endoscopic mucosal resection of superficial digestive tumours in a regional general hospital]

Superficial digestive tumours resection by endoscopic mucosal resection and sub-mucosal dissection causes very few complications according to the results obtained in expert centers. This work reports the rate of complications observed in a regional hospital, also comparing the results of their therapeutic management. The first 100 patients treated by endoscopic mucosal resection and sub-mucosal dissection, conducted by conventional techniques, were studied. The usual complications (stenosis, bleeding, perforation) were identified and details of their treatment reported. The overall complication rate was 16 %. Symptomatic stenoses are observed in 4 % of patients. Secondary bleeding occurs in 5 % of cases. Endoscopic management of these complications is effective in all cases, when it is attempted. Perforations complicate 7 % of the procedures. Two patients were assigned to surgery, successfully, the other 5 patients were treated by endoscopic sutures without damage. The complication rates observed in our department are comparable with results reported by the reference western centers. Their endoscopic management is usually successful and rescue surgery is unfrequent.

[Parietal surgery in the cirrhotic patient. A litterature review]

The prevalence of liver cirrhosis progresses due to an increased occurrence of hepatitis C viral infection and of Non Alcoholic SteatoHepatopathy (NASH) related to the metabolic syndrome. Cirrhosis is a known risk factor for the development of hernia. The peri-operative morbidity and mortality after abdominal wall surgery is higher in the cirrhotic patient because of postoperative organ failure. The optimal timing for surgery and the method of repair remain controversial, but growing evidence orientates towards elective rather than emergency treatment regardless of the Child-Pugh score.

Pancreatic ectopia: a case report

Pancreas ectopia / Ectopic pancreas (EP) is a rare congenital disease, most typically diagnosed in asymptomatic patients by incidental detection during surgery or at autopsy. It is defined by the presence of pancreatic tissue localized in various places drifting from the foregut or mesentery. It is subject to the same various inflammatory or neoplastic disorders that may affect the orthotopic pancreas, e.g. pancreatitis or pancreatic tumours. Upper GI endosonography is a key examination (tool) in detecting and defining gastroduodenal ectopic pancreas. However its diagnosis remains difficult. The final diagnosis relies on histopathologic analysis of the resected tumor required to confirm the diagnosis. Its treatment is based on patients' condition and symptoms as well as the kind of surgery depending on the location of the ectopic pancreatic tissue.

[Atypical clinical presentation of a neuroblastoma in an infant]

A babygirl, aged six weeks, was hospitalized for rectal prolapse and isolated constipation. The investigation revealed a neuroblastoma (NB) inducing a medullar compression responsible for the sphincter disorders. NB is second among pediatric solid tumors, but is the most frequent cancer among infants. Its diagnosis is difficult because of its rarity and the variety of its symptoms. A new staging, based on imaging, has recently been proposed by the International Neuroblastoma Risk Group. With the exception of its localized, easily resectable forms, NB is best treated by chemotherapy.

[Nodular focal hyperplasia in a child]

We report the case of seven year old girl, suffering from Steinert's disease and developing a nodular focal hyperplasia. The latter was fortuitously discovered on the occasion of an echography performed during the follow up of a post-catheterisation umbiblical vein hematoma. The lesion increased and became symptomatic. Nodular focal hyperplasia is a rare pathology in a child of that age and can be treated differently than in adults.

[Renal tumors in children. A single center study of 31 cases]

In order to illustrate epidemiologic features and survival rate, 31 Wilm's tumours treated in our institution have been retrospectively studied. The mean age at diagnosis in our series was surprisingly higher than usually described: 25% of the patients were older than 8 years. Moreover, a mesoblastic nephroma congenital kidney tumour--appeared in a 10 month old girl. Symptoms were usually abdominal mass or gross hematuria. Young children are often brought to medical attention because of abdominal swelling: a large flank mass was palpable in all children under 5 years. Our study shows that preoperative chemotherapy results in a less intensive treatment regimen conducting probably to less sequellae. Event free survival and overall survival were respectively 87% and 94% at 10 years after diagnosis. Renal insufficiency was the most important side effect: 2 children required renal transplantation.

Early thoracoscopy for the management of empyema in children

BACKGROUND

Empyema is a significant cause of morbidity in children. Treatment is still a matter of controversy between surgical and non-surgical options. We reviewed our experience with the use of video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) in the treatment of empyema and proposed an algorithm.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all the pediatric patients recorded at our institution from January 2003 to December 2007 who were diagnosed with empyema and treated by surgery.

RESULTS

23 children with empyema were treated with VATS during the review period. Mean age was 58.9 months and the duration of symptoms before admission was 6.1 days. All patients had a parapneumonic empyema treated by preoperative antibiotics (17/23 by parenteral antibiotics and 6/23 by oral antibiotics). Pre-operative imaging included chest X-ray in all cases and ultrasonography in all cases but one and computed tomography in 3 (13%). Our 23 patients underwent VATS within 5.3 days of hospitalisation, the most recent patients within 2 days. Chest tubes were removed after 2.7 days (range 2 to 4) resulting in a postoperative length of stay (LOS) of 10.3 days (range 6 to 28). Total LOS was 13.3 days (range 8 to 30). One patient required a conversion to thoracotomy. One patient required prolonged mechanical ventilation due to a severe myopathy during the post operative course, but there were no complications or deaths. Followup was available for all patients who all remained symptom-free and suffered no recurrence (clinical and radiological).

CONCLUSION

Early thoracoscopy for empyema in children is safe and efficient in the short and mid-term outcome. We describe an algorithm based on our initial experience and review the literature for the management of empyema in children.

[Retrospective study of childhood lymphomas. Report of 27 children treated at a single institution]

Childhood lymphomas represent a heterogeneous group of disorders that are quite different from adult lymphomas. Over the past three decades, empirical chemotherapeutic management has transformed survival figures, and more recently greater understanding of the biology is offering hope for improved management of resistant disease. We present here the experience of a single institution in the management of 27 childhood lymphomas; epidemiological and clinical characteristics are described as well as survival rates. The median follow up of the patients is 4 years 7 months. The five-year overall survival for the entire group is more than 95 %; the 5-year disease free survival is 91,6 % for Hodgkin's lymphomas, 92,8% for non Hodgkin's lymphomas and 100% for Burkitt diseases. Two relapses have occurred and all of them appeared within the 18 months of the diagnosis. No toxic death has been reported.

[Clinical evaluation of 23 children with neuroblastoma. The experience of a single institution]

In this retrospective study, we analyse epidemiology, clinical symptoms and therapeutic results in a group of 23 children with neuroblastoma. Half of them were less than 2 years of age; in 19 of 23, the primitive tumour was abdominal; 35% of them were initially metastatic. The overall survival was 83% at 5 years and the event free survival, 75% at 5 years. Pronostic factors are age, extension of the disease at diagnosis, biologic parameters and genetic study of the neuroblast cells (amplification of N-myc oncogen). Our study shows the deleterious effect of bone lesions.

Bony syngnathia, vertebral segmentation defect, coloboma, microcephaly and mental retardation: confirmation of Dobrow syndrome and review of syndromal syngnathias

Congenital bony fusion of the maxilla and mandible is a rare condition. Two classifications were previously proposed dealing exclusively with craniofacial malformations. Most of the reported cases to date represent either aglossia-adactylia or hemifacial microsomia syndromes. We report a young girl with bony syngnathia associated with multiple defects (severe microcephaly, coloboma, vertebral segmentation defects), growth and mental delay. This patient is very similar to the patient described by Dobrow in 1983 and confirms the existence of this extremely rare disorder.

[Paroxystic abdominal pain in children]

Acute abdominal pain in children is a frequent symptom of a wide spectrum of abdominal and extra-abdominal pathologies. Some of them are more common in specific age groups. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are facilitated by a good knowledge of the etiologies. Although surgery is mandatory in most of the cases of perforation, torsion, ischemia or necrosis, a medical treatment will prevent an unnecessary laparotomy in some circumtances.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma: results of a retrospective multicentric study in Belgium and Luxembourg

Eighteen patients, operated upon for sacrococcygeal teratoma in 7 different centres in Belgium and Luxembourg between 1992 and 1996, were reviewed. From an epidemiological point of view, this series compares very well to others. Although excellent results were obtained, with all patients surviving, some imperfection in diagnosis, timing of delivery and of operation, and in operative technique was observed. Therefore, it is stated that for optimal treatment of sacrococcygeal teratoma to be achieved, these cases should be treated in just a very few centres of neonatal surgery.

Discrepant flow cytometric expression and function of P-glycoprotein in neuroblastic tumors

BACKGROUND

Patients suffering from neuroblastic tumors are currently being classified into prognostic subsets based on different clinical and biologic features. In this study, a triple-color flow cytometric assay and a functional test were applied to neuroblastoma cell lines and patients with a neuroblastic tumor, and the value of P-glycoprotein expression and function as potential prognostic characteristics, was determined.

METHODS

Twenty-two single-cell suspensions prepared from tumors, and neuroblasts from four bone marrow samples were analyzed by triple-color flow cytometry. Neuroblasts were identified by NB84-positivity and absence of CD45. P-glycoprotein expression was evaluated using 4E3 and MRK16 antibodies. Eighteen samples were tested with a functional assay, based on accumulation and retention of rhodamine-123 with and without the inhibitor verapamil. Six neuroblastoma cell lines were also evaluated.

RESULTS

P-glycoprotein expression was seen in 18 of 26 patient samples and in three of six cell lines. The highest expression levels were found in low stage neuroblastoma and well-differentiated tumors; whereas the highest activities were found in stage 4 neuroblastoma and the lowest in ganglioneuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma patients. In 10 of 17 samples, concordant results were found between the flow cytometric immunological test and immunocytochemistry.

CONCLUSIONS

The described flow cytometric technique is a new, alternative approach to detect P-glycoprotein expression and function in neural crest tumors. Based on the expression level and the activity value, patients can be segregated into different phenotypic groups. In particular, those patients with high P-glycoprotein activity might benefit from treatment regimens containing reversal agents.

Femoral anastomotic aneurysms: pathogenic factors, clinical presentations and treatment. A study of 142 cases

In this study, the files of 112 patients with a total of 142 femoral anastomotic aneurysms were reviewed. Eighty-five patients (76%) were initially operated upon for obstructive aorto-iliac disease, while the remaining 27 (24%) had abdominal aortic aneurysms repaired. The majority of the patients (104/112) were male and their mean age was 64.5 years (range 45-88). Ninety-three per cent of the subjects were smokers prior to the first operation and 43% continued to smoke at the time of their femoral anastomotic aneurysms operation. The mean delay between the initial surgery and the repair of the femoral anastomotic aneurysms was 74.5 months (range 1-228). The diagnosis was made because of a painless pulsatile mass (91/142), acute leg ischaemia (27/142), a painful pulsatile mass (12/142), haemorrhage (10/142), pseudo-post-phlebitic oedema (1/142) and microemboli of the toes (1/142). The operative mortality was 2.7% (3/112) of which two-thirds were patients with infected grafts. Two subgroups were distinguished: 10 patients with an infected femoral anastomotic aneurysm and 12 patients with recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysms, 11 with a single recurrence and one with a double recurrence. In the infected group, the time to development of anastomotic aneurysm was shorter than for the group with non-infected femoral anastomotic aneurysms (41 versus 74.5 months) and the operative mortality was 20% (2/10). One patient developed a recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysm and another was lost to follow-up. Two subsequent deaths occurred, which were unrelated to the femoral anastomotic aneurysms. In the group of recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysms one patient was lost to follow-up and two patients died, but not as a result of recurrent femoral anastomotic aneurysms. A total of 122 cases underwent interposition of a new prosthetic segment between the proximal prosthesis and the distal artery (89 at the common femoral, 21 at the femoral profundis, eight at the superficial femoral and four at an existing femoro-popliteal graft).

[Importance of long-term follow-up of infants operated of sacro-coccygeal teratoma]

Sacro-coccygeal teratoma is the tumor which is most frequently diagnosed in infants. In spite of the sometimes spectacular appearance of the tumor, the surgical treatment generally permits a definitive cure of the disease without any significant functional or esthetic sequellae. The risk of malignant recurrence, even after removal of an apparently benign mass is not totally excluded and may imply to resort to combined treatment by surgery and chemotherapy. The baby must be carefully followed-up and the serum levels of alpha-foetoprotein (a specific tumor marker), and sometimes beta-HCG must be regularly measured. Local surveillance is mandatory to prevent any loss of time in case of recurrence.

[Long-term results in ileo-anal reservoirs in the treatment of ulcero-hemorrhagic rectocolitis]

The authors report long term results of 53 ileo-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. They used a "J" pouch technique with anastomosis to the anal canal after mucosectomy of the lower rectum. An upstream ileostomy should be created and left in place for two to three months. Early morbidity primarily involves pelvic or parietal infectious problems, while late complications comprise pelvic fistulae, obstructive events, and episodes of pouch inflammation. Functional results improve over the first year and remain stable thereafter. The major long term problem remains that of pouch inflammation its treatment, and the understanding of its pathophysiology.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication: detailed analysis of 132 patients

With the world-wide use of laparoscopy, new applications have been found, particularly in the field of esophageal and gastric surgery. From January 1991 through April 1992, 132 patients underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. The indication for laparoscopic intervention was symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) not responding to medical treatment. The preoperative assessment included esophagogastroscopy, barium meal, esophageal manometry, and, in selected cases, 24 h pH studies. There was no operative-related mortality. The overall morbidity was 7.5%. Ninety-eight patients were seen 3 months after surgery and evaluated for control of reflux symptoms. One patient complained of mild recurrence of reflux symptoms; however, endoscopic examination revealed no evidence of recurrent esophagitis. Three complained of occasional dysphagia and two, of mild dysphagia. One individual required reoperation for persistent, severe dysphagia. The excellent results observed so far with this procedure have led us to believe that laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the procedure of choice for patients with intractable GERD.