Three hundred and twenty-seven patients of 2,046 inguinal hernia cases primarily repaired at Hanyang University Hospital had the history of incarceration or presented as incarcerated inguinal hernia on admission. Incidence of incarceration of all male hernias was 14.2%(234 patients) and 22.7%(93 patients) of all female cases. Incarceration occurred in 17.3% of all right hernia cases and in 13.7% of all left hernia cases.

The incarceration occurred 52.6% of the hernia patients in the first month of life, 27.3% in the first year, 26.7% in the second year and 7.8% after 2 years of age. Strangulated inguinal hernia occurred in 8 patients: five patients had ovaries involved, two patients intestines, and one patient omentum. Emergency operations were performed on 66 patients(20.2%) because incarcerated hernia could not be reduced by taxis. At the time of operation, the hernia sacs were empty in 140 of 327 patients and the remainders contained omentum(50), small intestine (44), appendix and/or cecum(28), sigmoid colon(2), ovary and/or tube(66), and omental cyst(l).

An elective hernia repair should be performed promptly after presentation of the hernia, especially before 2 years of life because of high incidence of incarceration. In this study, of 327 incarcerated hernia, 187 patients(57.2%) did not have prior history of incarceration and incarceration developed more than 7 days after hernia onset in 95.6%. If the hernia repairs had been performed within 7 days after hernia onset, about half of the incarceration might have been prevented.

We reviewed 45 cases of ovarian tUmors treated at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from 1983 to 1993. Forty-five patients were operated upon for 52 ovarian tumors. The most common pathologic diagnosis was mature teratoma. The next were functional cyst, the tumors of epithelial cell origin, and those of stromal origin in order of frequency. Six patients(13%) had malignant tumor. There were one malignant teratoma, two dysgerminomas, one endodermal sinus tumor, and two granulosa cell tumors. Four cases were diagnosed as torsion of ovarian cyst preoperatively, and emergency exploratory laparotomy were performed. There were three cases of ovarian tumors associated with precocious puberty. The most widely used diagnostic tool was ultrasonography.

In the treatment of these 45 patients, unilateral oophorectomy was done in 38 cases, unilateral oophorectomy with wedge resection of contralateral ovary was done in 5 cases, unilateral oophorectomy with contralateral simple cystectomy was done in one case and total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingooophorectomy was done in one case. Of the six cases of malignancy, five patients are alive 2 to 6 years after operation and one case was lost to be followed up.

Teratoma contains elements derived from all three embryonic germ layers and mature teratomas are entirely composed of mature differentiated tissues, while immature types always contain additional embryonic tissues of variable degree of immaturity, especially neuroepithelial elements. Twenty cases of teratoma in infancy and childhood were reviewed and the clinical features and pathologic findings including PCNA expression were studied. Sacrococcygeal teratomas were the most common type(45%), followed by retroperitoneal and ovarian teratomas. There was. a predilection of females in a ratio of 4:1 and age distribution was most prevalent below the first year of age(45%). But in ovarian teratomas, the age at diagnosis was above 4 years of age in all cases. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were checked in 18 cases. In all mature teratomas and 1 of 5 immature teratomas, the levels were normal. But in 4 of 5 immature teratomas, the serum levels were elevated and progressively declined to normal range after mass excision.

Radiologically, calcifications in tumor were found in 60.0% of teratomas and was higher in mature teratomas(69.2%) than immature teratomas(42.9%). Immunohistochemical staining for PCNA(proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was done in 16 cases and PCNA expression was higher in grade III immature teratomas than grade I and II.

The operative modes were complete mass excisions. Five immature teratomas were treated with multiagent PEB(Bleomycin, Etoposide, Cisplatin) adjuvant chemotherapy, 3 tolerated well without significant complications, but in one case, severe bone marrow suppression was developed and died of sepsis.

In conclusion, grade III immature teratoma showed higher PCNA expression than mature or lower grade immature teratoma, which suggests that chemotherapy after surgical excision may be effective modality for grade III immature teratoma. We think, however, multicenter study is necessary because of low incidence of immature teratoma.

Because rectal prolapse in pediatric age was known to have a self-limitting natural history in weeks to years, this disease is prone to be regarded as a minor codition to the most of surgeons. But to the children and the parents who have to be suffered each time could be a heavy distress. Even though operative or nonoperative methods can be applicable for treatment, the main problem is in surgeon's side, whose preference is based on the experiences of adult patients. The authors have experienced 16 cases of ano-rectal prolapse for 9 years since 1986. Eleven of them were true rectal prolapses. In 7 cases of true type, injection therapy has been tried. One ml of five per cent phenol in glycerine was injected into the submucosal layer of the ano-rectal angle level at both lateral and posterior sides. After first trial of each cases, 5 of them were cured completely so far. Recurrences were in two cases, but one of them was temporary to be subsided afterward. Complete bowel cleansing and adequate sedations were required as preoperative preparations. Two days' oral antibiotics and two weeks' laxatives for free of defecation straining were recommended after the procedure. The safety of sclerosis was supported by the experimental histology. In pediatric rectal prolapse, sclerosis seems to be a safe and effective treatement of choice without any significant morbidity.

To study the clinical profiles and outcome of surgery in infants with esophageal atresia, we reviewed 96 esophageal atresia cases who were treated from April, 1978 to June, 1995. There were 51 male and 45 female infants, a ratio of 1.1:1. The low birth weight(<2500g) patients were 32%. Clinical findings at the time of diagnosis inculded drooling in 57%, choking in 50%, cyanosis in 38%, respiratory distress in 27% and swallowing difficulty in 20%. Gross classification included 6 cases of type A esophageal atresia(6%), 79 cases of type C(82%). 3 cases of type E (3%) and 8 cases of type F(8%). Associated anomalies occurred in 34 infants(35%). Among them, cardiac anomalies were most common(60%). A primary repair of the defect was carried out in 76 patients with type A or C. A staged operation comprising a repair or gastric tube interposition after gastrostomy was performed in 8 patients. In all 3 infants with H-type, a division of fistula was performed. Esophageal resection and anastomosis was done in 8 infants with esophageal stenosis. In one infant, a gastrostomy was performed and he expired before staged operation. Anastomotic complications incuded leakage in 16 cases(l7%), stricture in 37 cases(39%) and recurrent tracheoesopohageal fistula in 3 cases(3%). The mortality rate was 14% and the leading cause of death was peumonia. The overall survival rate was 86%, and according to Waterston cirteria, the survival rates were 93%, 85% and 58% in class A, Band C, respectively. 75 patients were followed up with median follow up 6.4 years. Among them, 93% were uneventful and 7% had frequent pneumonia.

The first national survey on esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula was conducted to access the current status of its incidence. clinical manifestation, preoperative diagnosis and management, type of its anomaly, associated anomalies, and surgical results and course. The 43 members of the Korea Association of Pediatric Surgeons received questionnaires and registration forms to be filled out on each patient who were born during the three years from January I, 1992 through Decestricurember 31, 1994. Questionnaires composed of six broad areas which include 1) preoperative diagnosis and management, 2) surgical technic, 3) long gap, 4) postoperative management, and 5) complications and courses. A total of 148 cases was returned by 28 members working at 23 institutions and 27 members returped questionnaires. We obtained the following results by analysis of the 148 cases of tracheoesophageal anomalies. The incidence of tracheoesophageal anomaly was about 1/10,000-11,000 in 1994, which is one third of that of anorectal malformations in Korea and the distribution of the patients was almost proportionate to the size of each province. Both sexes are about equally affected. Majority of the members make diagnosis of tracheoesophageal anomaly by taking a simple infantogram with a radiopaque tube in upper pouch and a little under half(46%) prefers to perform echocardiography as a part of preoperative management to identify congenital heart disease and lateralize the aorta.

Esophageal atresia with distal TEF(87.50/0) was by far the most common and threre were pure esopahgeal atresia(5.6%), H-type TEF(2.l%), and so on. About half(49%) of the patients had one or more associated anomalies in addition to tracheoesophageal anomalies. Congenital heart disease was associated in 46 cases(31 %), anorectral malfomations in 19 cases(13%), musculoskeletal anomalies in 15 cases(10%), genitourinary anomalies in 10 cases(7%) and gastrointestinal anomalies in 7 cases(5%). Postoperatively, parenteral nutrition and assisted ventilation were given in 66% and 52% of patients respectively. Ninety three(74%) of 126 cases who underwent surgical procedure, experienced one or more complications such as respiratory complication (65%), leak(22%), stricture(21%) and so on. The survival rates related to the Waterston risk categories were 90.2% in grpup A, 71.4-75% in B₁, B₂, and C groups, and 28% in group C₂ and the overall survival rate was 71.4%. Thirty six(28.6%) of 126 cases died of pneumonia/sepsis(12 cases), respiratory failure(l2 cases), and congenital heart disease(4 cases). With short term follow-up, 69% of patients have been excellent whereas remainders of the cases have suffered from some sort of morbidity related to gastroesophageal reflux, recurrent respiratory infection, and esophageal stricure.

Since 1988, we have performed esophageal replacement with the reversed gastric tube on four esophageal atresia patients. Three patients had long-gap esophageal atresias and one patient had recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula that was previously operated on three times. One combined imperforate anus.

The youngest patient was 6-month-old and the oldest, 34-month-old at the time of procedure. The technique of gastric tube construction is described. There have been both major and minor complications. Although two patients had shown distal tube strictures as late complications, those were solved with tuboplasties on 29 months and 48 months, postoperatively.

Growth and development have been acceptable in all four patients, although most remain in the lower percentiles for growth and height, a condition that usually predates the esophageal substitution.

Conclusively, reversed gastric tube interposition has proved very satisfactory for long-gap esophageal atresia that cannot be anastomosed primarily even by spiral myotomy and esophageal atresia with recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula having destroyed esophagus due to previous operation.

Abdominal epilepsy is accepted as unusual cause of abdominal pain in children and young adolescents. Although its abdominal symptoms may be similar to those of the irritable bowel syndrome, it may be distinguished from the latter condition by the presence of the altered consciousness during some of attacks, EEG abnormalities, and a good response to anticonvulsant medication. The diagnosis of abdominal epilepsy came into vogue in the 1950s and 1960s as an explanation for childhood abdominal complaints. More recently, it has been recognized that isolated vomiting without loss of consciousness or other more common paroxysmal symtoms is rarely attributable to abdominal epilepsy.

We report 4 cases of abdominal epilepsy, whose ages ranged from 8 to 11 years, with paroxysmal abdominal pain or vomitng consistent with a diagnosis of abdominal epilepsy.

A 2-day-old male {Premie, Large for gestational age(LGA), Intrauterine period (IUP) 33 weeks, birth weight 2,955 gram} was transferred with marked abdominal distention, bilious return via the orogastric tube, respiratory difficulty, and generalized edema (hydrops fetalis). He was born by cesarean section to a 36 year-old mother. Antenatal ultrasonogram at IUP 31 weeks demonstrated multiple dilated bowel loops suggestive of intestinal obstruction. There was no family history of cystic fibrosis. Simple abdominal films disclosed diffuse haziness and suspicious fine calcifications in the right lower quadrant. Barium enema demonstrated a microcolon. Sweat chloride test was not available in our institution. At laparotomy, there noted 1) a segmental volvulus of the small bowel with gangrenous change, associated with meconium peritonitis, 2) an atresia of the ileum at the base of the volvulus, and 3) the terminal ileum distal to the volvulus was narrow and impacted with rabbit pellets-like thick meconium. These findings appeared to be very similar to those of a complicated meconium ileus. In . summary, the ileal atresia and meconium peritonitis seemed to be caused by antenatal segmental volvulus of the small intestine in a patient with probable meconeum ileus.

Segmental intestinal dilatation is rare, which causes symptom of bowel obstruction and requires resection. The resection is not only diagnostic but also curative procedure. Recently, author experienced 2 cases of segmental dilatation of the ileum due to focal agenesis of the intestinal muscularis in 7 day & 4 day-old female neonates. The postoperative recovery was excellant in the first case after resection of dilated ileum(l5cm in length) and end to end anastimosis, and discharged at 20th day. But in the second case, the passage disturbance was not relieved after resection of dilated ileum(30cm in length), and author re-resected 80cm more of dilated proximal ileum at 2 weeks after the first operation. This baby discharged after diarrhea control with Loperin on I month after the second operation.

Final histologic examination showed I) normal population of ganglion cells in both narrowed & dilated ileum in both cases, 2) focal abscence of muscularis propria in both cases, 3) relative hypertrophy of inner circular muscle layer and thinned, multiple fragmented outer longitudinal muscle layer in case 2.

Neonatal intestinal perforation is mainly caused by necrotizing enterocolitis, intestinal atresia, meconium ileus or unknown etiology. Occasionally, Hirschsprung's disease presents with neonatal intestinal perforation, of which, it is known that total colonic aganglionosis is common. Therefore, Hirschsprung's disease should be considered as a cause of neonatal intestinal perforation.

The authors have experienced 3 cases of neonatal Hirschsprung's disease associated with colonic perforations. Cecal perforations were noted in 2 cases with aganglionosis from descending colon and sigmoid perforation in a case with aganglionosis in rectum. These cases will be discussed with literature review.

Diphallus is a rare congenital anomaly and is frequently associated with duplication of the urinary tract and rectosigmoid, and commonly associated with vertebral anomalies. Remzi reported less than 100 cases of duplication of all or a portion of the penis, but about 10 cases of complete diphallus with exstrophy of cloaca was reported, and a case of complete diphallus associated with hingut duplication was reported, and complete diphallus with displacement of bladder associated hindgut duplication and imperforate anus was not reported in Korea. We experienced a case of the complete diphallus associated with displacement of bladder, hindgut duplication, and imperforate anus as a variant of cloacal exstrophy. A review of published cases suggests that this may be the first example of a complete dip hall us with displacement of bladder coexisting with the hindgut duplication and imperforate anus.

Nesidioblastosis in one of the causes of hyperinsulinemic hypoglysemia in infancy. The most important goal of treatment for persistent hypoglycemia is the prevention of permanent brain damage. The early surgical management is satisfactory to this goal in nesidioblastosis and maintains normal blood sugar level without administration of drugs or supplement of sugar postperatively in many cases.

We experienced a female infant of 3 months old who has suffered from persistent hypoglysemia due to hyperinsulinism and was suspected nesidioblastosis for ' its cause clinically. She underwent 95% distal pancreatectomy. The histologic findings of nesidioblastosis was confirmed postoperatively.

No postoperative complication was occured and her blood sugar levels were maintained within normal range without medical treatment.

Splenic tuberculosis is an uncommonly considered diagnosis in clinical practice. This is a case report of splenic tuberculosis in a 13-year-old boy who was seronegative to HIV. He was just well until 7 days prior to this admission when he started to feel epigastric and left subchondral pain. Chest X -ray was not pathological. Abdominal ultrasonography showed slight splenomegaly with multiple hypoechoic nodules and abdominal CT disclosed multiple irregular hypodense lesions in the spleen. Radiological interpretation suggested the possibility of lymphoma or metastatic malignancy. Splenectomy was done and the histopathological findings showed extensive chronic granulomatous inflammation compatible with tuberculosis. Splenic tuberculosis 1l1ust be included in the differential diagnosis of hypoechoic and hypodense lesions by means of sonography and computed tomography, respectively.

Neonatal adrenal hemorrhage is frequently associated with birth trauma or perinatal hypoxia. Hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal glands is often found at autopsy and many small lesions are usually asymptomatic. A palpable abdominal mass and jaundice are the usual presenting signs. Ultrasound is very useful in the diagnosis of this lesion; however, if the mass has mixed echoic pattern, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is helpful for the differential diagnosis from neuroblastoma. We present the case of a female newborn who was found to have a abdominal mass on physical examination. The patient showed anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. An ultrasonogram disclosed a 3.8 × 3.0 cm suprarenal mass with mixed echoic pattern. The mass was initially suspected to be neuroblastoma. An abdominal computed tomogram was not able to differentiate the mass. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed markedly increased signal intensity on T1 and T2-weighted sequences. This findLl1g was consistent with adrenal hemorrhage. Serial sonogram demonstrated the mass that resolved completely by 12 weeks of age.