Regional lymphadenitis is the most common complication following BCG vaccination in this country. The literature describes controversial results with medical, surgical and combined therpy. The purpose of this study is to clarify the therapeutic effect of isoniazid(INH) after surgical procedures. The early and late postoperative complications of 136 children with lymphadenitis following BCG vaccination at the Taegu Fatima Hospital between March 1985 and February 1996 were reviewed. In 90 children, INH was given for 3-4 days before operation and for 3 months after surgery. In the other 46 cases, INH was not given during the pre- or postoperative period. Surgical procedures were excision or incision and currettage according to the states of lesions. Postoperative complications were fluid accumulation, wound infection, sinus formation and others. Complication rates were 14.4 % in INH-treated group and 13.0% of INH-nontreated group. The difference was not significant. There was no recurrence or other late complication in either groups. The result suggest that surgical excision or incision and currettage are sufficient for the treatment of regional lymphadenitis following BCG vaccination and postoperative INH therapy is not neccessary.

To differentiate biliary atresia from intraheaptic cholestasis, Tc-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphies and percutaneous needle biopsies of 60 consecutive infants were evaluated retrospectively. Twenty three patients had biliary atresia and 37 patients intraheaptic cholestasis(neonatal hepatitis 34, TPN induced jaundice 2 and Dubin-Johnson syndrome i). All sixty patients underwent Tc-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy with phenobarbital pretreatment. Of 23 patients with biliary atresia, 22 were correctly interpreted showing 96% sensitivity while of 37 patients with intraheaptic cholestasis, only 12 had intestinal excretion of radionudide showing 32% specificity. Among the forty needle biopsies, 17 of biliary atresia and 23 of intrahepatic cholestasis, 37 were correctly interpreted as either having biliary atresia or intrahepatic cholestasis. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 93%. Of 3 misdiagnosed cases, the histologic findings of two patients with biliary atresia(aged 43 days and 54 days at the first needle biopsy) were essentially the same as those of neonatal hepatitis. Follow-up biopsies, however, showed findings consistent with biliary atresia. The third one(VLBW premie with history of 8 weeks of TPN) showed mild ductal proliferation and portal fibrosis. This was interpreted as suspicious for biliary atresia. Jaundice resolved gradually. In summary, patients who have intestinal excretion of radionudide on Tc-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy, biliary atresia can be ruled out. But the patients who do not have intestinal excretion of radionudide should have further investigation by needle biopsy. Judicious use of Tc-99m DISIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy and percutaneous needle biopsy can give a diagnostic accuracy of 95% or more in cases of infantile cholestasis.

During a 6-year period, from January1990 to December 1995, 101 neonates with congenital anomalies were admitted to the division of Pediatric Surgery of Y oungdong Severance Hospital. All of them had prenatal screening more than once with ultrasound. Fifty eight of them had prenatally detectable anomalies by ultrasonography. However abnormalities were prenatally detected in 24 neonates( 41 %). The detection rate was 70% in patientws who had the prenatal screening at our hospital, whereas, the rate was 24% when it was performed at other medical facilities. Duodenal and jejunoileal atresia showed the highest detection rate(86%) followed by abdominal mass. Esophageal atresia was suggested by maternal polyhydramnios in 3 patients(25%). Only one patient with diaphragmatic hernia ( 1.75%) was prenatally detected and none with gastroschisis. The mean interval from birth to operation was 32 hours in the prenatally detected patients and 50 hours in the nondetected. The complication rate and the mortality after emergency operation were 20% and 7% in the detected group, and 58% and 23% in the nondetected, respectively. The average period of the hospitalization was 20 days in the detected group and 39 days in the nondetected. We conclude that the prenatal detection of anomalies is necessary to ensure adequate care for the mothers and the babies with congenital anomalies. This includes early transfer, timing of optimal delivery and operation.

Thirty-four consecutive cases of thyroglossal duct lesions in children were reviewed at the Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. Twenty patients were males, and the most prevalent age of discovering was 2 to 4 years(52.9%). Resection was performed within .2 years after discovering the lesions in 19 cases, but was delayed untill 4 to 10 years in 6 cases. Cystic lesions(85.3%) were 5.8 times more common than fistulas. A midline upper neck mass was found in every cystic cases, and a draining sinus at hyoid region was noticed in fistula patients. The location of the lesion was on the hyoid bone in 34 cases, at the midline in 31 cases, slightly to the left in 2 cases, and slightly to the right in 1. Two cases were misdiagnosed as lymphadenopathy, and a single case of ectopic thyroid gland was misinterpreted as a thyroglossal duct cyst. Modified Sistrunk operation was performed in twenty-three cases(67.6%), Sistrunk operation in 9(26.5%), and cyst excision in 2(5.9%). Postoperative complications occurred in 4 cases(l1.8%); 2 wound infections and 2 recurrences. One of recurrences was a fistula treated by modified Sistrunk operation, and the other was a cyst treated by cyst excision.

A clinical review was done of 31 children with blunt liver injury who were admitted to the Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital , between 1981 and 1990. Seventeen of the 31 children required laparotomy(11 primary repairs, 4 lobectomies, 2 segmentectomies). There were two deaths after laparotomy, one due to associated severe head injury and another due to multiorgan failure. The remaining 14 children, who were hemodynamically stable after initial resuscitation and who did not have signs of other associated intraabdominal injuries, were managed by nonoperative treatment. Patients were observed in a pediatric intensive care unit for at least 48 hours with repeated abdominal clinical evaluations, laboratory studies, and monitoring of vital signs. The hospital courses in all cases were uneventful and there were no late complication. A follow-up computed tomography of 7 patients showed resolution of the injury in all. The authors believe that, for children with blunt liver injuries, nonoperative management is safe and appropriate if carried out under careful continuous surgical observation in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract in neonatal period has been associated with a grim prognosis. Recently there has been some improvement in survival. To evaluate the remaining pitfalls in management, 19 neonatal gastrointestinal perforation cases from May 1989 to July 1996 were analysed retrospectively. Seven patients were premature and low birth weight infants. Perforation was most common in the ileum{56.3%). Mechanical or functional obstruction distal to the perforation site was identified in 7 cases; Hirschsprung's disease 3, small bowel atresia 3, and anorectal malformation 1. These lesions were often not diagnosed until operation. Five cases of necrotizing enterocolitis and 1 of muscular defect were the other causes of perforation. In six cases, the cause of the perforation was not identified. Perinatal ischemic episodes were associated in five cases. Overall mortality was 15.1 %. Because a considerable number of gastrointestinal perforations resulted from distal obstruction, pediatric surgeon should be alert for early identification and intervention of gastrointestinal obstruction, particularly in patients that are premature and have a history of ischemia..

Accidental ingestion of caustic substance is one of the common problems among children around the world. Acid intake accounts for a mere 5% of all reported cases of corrosive ingestion in the West. Because of the esophageal sparing effect of acid, clinically significant esophageal involvement after acid ingestion occurs in only 6 to 20 per cent of the instances. Despite effort of prevention, 7% to 15% of children sustaining caustic esophageal burns develop esophageal strictures. If balloon dilatation or bougie dilatation fails to resolve the esophageal strictures, successful outcome following replacement by colon or stomach has been reported in children. But the complications and morbidity following these operations are still relatively high. Seven patients with corrosive-acid induced esophageal strictures who were operated upon at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1991 to 1995 were reviewed. Primary resection and anastomosis was performed in all of 7 patients. The stricture involved short segments of the esophagus at the level of the lower cervical and the upper thoracic vertebra. The operations were approached through a left cervical incision or a left thoracotomy. In one patient, operative repair of anastomotic leakage was done, and three patients required re-resection of anastomotic strictures postoperatively, and one patient required a third operation(reversed gastric tube} due to an anastomotic stricture. The other anastomotic leaks, strictures or pulmonary complications were resolved with conservative treatment. In conclusion, primary resection and anastomosis of the esophagus was performed successfully on the 6 of 7 children with acid induced corrosive esophageal strictures. This approach is physiologic, especially in children who should have a long life expectancy, and recommended for the treatment of short-segment acid induced corrosive esophageal strictures.

Eight pediatric patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome were treated from 1984 to 1994 at the Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital. We reviewed the clinical features of our own 8 cases as well as 56 cases reported in Korean literatures. The results were compared to those of western reports. Gastrointestinal complications in our series were more frequent than in the Korean series, but the distribution of polyps was similar. The Korean series showed the following characteristics compared to the western reports; demographic backgrounds were similar; gastrointestinal symptoms were more common; location of the polyp was more frequent in colon (2 times); and the most prevalent site of malignant change was the colon in Korean cases.

To understand the current status of pediatric surgical practice of the members of the Korean Association of Pediatric Sutgeons, a survey of the practice of the 31 members in both 1994 and 1995. Twenty five members(80%) representing 20 hospitals responded. An average of four hundred and seventy four cases pediatric surgical operations were performed at individual institution in 1995 with 40 newborn cases. Eighteen members(72%) ate currently working at university hospital. Fourteen institutions(70%) are currently classified as tertiary by the health insurance agency. The majority(l5 to 60%) of members are working in the metropolitan Seoul area, while five in Taegu area. Sixteen members reported having the title of department head/director. Four members reported occasional non-pediatric surgical practice. Nine members out of 20 reported having independent pediatric surgical out-patient clinic before the establishment of the association( 1985). Eight out of 15 members reported being appointed chief of pediatric surgery before 1985. In 20 institutions, 34 full time physicians(27 members, reportedly) are working in pediatric surgery. In regarding to pediatric surgical training, 16 members(64%) received an average of 16 months of training abroad, 5 members trained at home and abroad, and 4 from only at home. There are no differences in length of training periods in these groups. TWenty one members received their basic pediatric surgical training before 1985, the year of inauguration of the association. Twelve members received post-pediatric surgery refresher courses averaging 11 months' duration, after 2-11 years. Thirteen participants of this study belongs to the founding members of the association.

One case of primary omental torsion in a 10 year-old, 43 kg boy is presented. He presented with a history of acute, continuous pain in the upper abdomen, aggravated by changes of position. Physical examination of his abdomen showed board-like rigidity, tenderness and rebound tenderness over the entire abdomen. The preoperative diagnosis was perforated peptic ulcer. Exploratory laparatomy revealed torsion of the greater omentum. The tor sed omentum was excised and the outcome was good. Omental torsion is a rare surgical condition and is difficult to diagnose prior to operation. Therefore, in case of negative exploration for acute abdomen, the omentum should be included among the organs examined. In addition, careful search for an inflammatory focus should be made, because secondary omental torsion with intraabdominal sepsis is much more common than primary torsion.

A 3-year-old boy with a Wilms' tumor had unusually severe hypertension, polydipsia, polyuria and hypokalemia. Physical-examination on admission was unremarkable except for the presence of a smooth, firm mass in the right abdomen. Computerized tomography showed a tumor occupying the upper two thirds of the right kidney. Plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration were markedly elevated, 37.7 mg/ml/hour(normal in supine position 0.15-2.33 mg/ml/hour) and 120.1 ng/dL(normal in supine position 1 to 16 ng/dL) , respectively. Hypertension varied from 150/90 mmHg to 240/180 mmHg, and was not effectively controlled by antihypertensive drugs. Right nephrectomy was performed on the sixth hospital day. At laparatomy, there was no evidence of mechenical compression of the renal artery by the tumor. The tumor, about 8 cm in diameter, was confined to the renal capsule without involvement of the renal blood vessels at the hilum. Histopathology was Wilms' tumor of favorable histology. On electron microscopy, tumor cells contained intracytoplasmic electron dense secreting graules, suggesting the possibility of renin secreting tumor cells. Shortly after nephrectomy, signs and symptoms were relieved dramatically, and plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration were also decreased to normal.

The association of pyloric atresia and epidermolysis bullosa(EB) in newborn is rare and inheritant as an autosomal recessive trait. We report a newborn girl with pyloric atresia and epidermolysis bullosa. Blisters were noted on her skin at birth, especially in pressure-exposed area, and later on the oral mucosa. Junctional epidermolysis bullosa was confirmed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Radiography revealed pyloric atresia. Segmental resection of 1.5 cm and gastroduodenostomy were carried out at 4 days of age. Protein loosing enteropathy developed after oral feeding. The frequency of episodes of nonscarred blisters and the severity and duration improved significantly with time. The protein loosing enteropathy was persistent, and at 1 year of age, her growth is markedly retarded.