Inguinal hernia is the most common disease treated by the pediatric surgeon. There are several controversial aspects of management 1)the optimal timing of surgical repair, especially for preterm babies, 2)contralateral groin exploration during repair of a clinically unilateral hernia, 3)use of laparoscope in contralateral groin exploration, 4)timing of surgical repair of cord hydrocele, 5)perioperative pain control, 6)perioperative management of anemia. In this survey, we attempted to determine the approach of members of KAPS to these aspects of hernia treatment. A questionnaire by e-mail or FAX was sent to all members. The content of the questionnaire were adapted from the “
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Pediatric surgery could establish a definitive position in the medical field on the basis of a stable patient population. Neonatal surgery, the core of pediatric surgery, requires highly skilled surgeons. However, recent advancement of prenatal diagnosis followed by intervention and decreased birth rate has resulted in a significant decrease in the neonatal surgical population and the number of surgical operations. The purpose of this study is to examine the outcome of neonatal surgeries and to propose a guide for the future surgeries. A total of 359 neonatal surgical patients operated upon at the Department of Surgery, Ewha Medical Center, during past 21 years were studied. The study period hasbeen divided into two time periods : from 1983 to 1993 and from 1994 to 2004. Analysis was based on the Clinical Classification System and mortality pattern, frequency of disorders, occurrence and cause of death, and other changes. Neonatal surgery was 6.4 % of all pediatric surgery during the total 21 year period, 9.9 % in the first period and 4.8 % in the second. Male to female ratio increased from 2.7 : 1 to 2.1 : 1. The overall mortality was 6.7 %, and there was significant decrease from 7.4 % in the first period to 6.0 % in the second. The clinical classification system (CCS) for death cases included class II 2, III 4, and IV 7 during the first period and class III 3, and IV 8 during the second, respectively. According to the mortality pattern by Hazebroek, there were 6 preventable death cases during the first period, and only one in the second, and 2 non-preventable death cases during the first period and 8 in second, respectively. Although the patients in the second period had more serious diseases, surgical mortality has been decreased in the second period, which may be the result of improved surgery methods for newborns and advanced patient care.
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Falls from a height are the leading cause of injury and death among urban children. In this study,
objective
was to describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment results of the children who fell from a certain height and admitted over abdominal injury. The medical records of patients under 15 years old admitted over abdominal injury by a fall from one meter or more height between January 1997 and December 2003 at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Of 585 consecutive patients who admitted to our hospital after a fall from a height of 1 to 31.2 meters, 28 patients (4.8%) suffered from blunt abdominal trauma. The male to female ratio was 2.1: 1. The children between 12 months and 13 years old were the patients with 5.5 years old of the median age, and the median height fallen was 3 meters. Fifteen patients (53.6%) were during the summer and seventy-nine percent of the falls occurred between noon and 9 pm. Eighteen (64.3%) of falls occurred in residential place and 19 (67.8%) of patients arrived at the emergency department in 30 minutes after the accidents. Only 16 patients (57.1%) complained of abdominal pain. Liver injuries were found in 12 (42.9%), spleen injuries in 5 (17.9%), kidney injuries 3 (10.7%), pancreatic injuries in 1 (3.6%) and nonspecific abdominal injuries in 9 (32.1%) of cases. The increased SGOT and SGPT were found in each 23 (82.2%) and 18 (64.3%) of cases. Eleven patients (39.3%) had been associated with head injuries and limb injuries in each 17.9% and thoracic injuries in 7.1%. Twenty-five patients (89.3%) were recovered under the conservative treatments and the median length of hospital stay was 6 days (range, 2 -20 days). Despite the absence of abdominal symptoms or shock, falls from a height in children may carry a significant intra-abdominal organ injuries. Moreover the height of free fall cannot reliably predict the degree of the abdominal injury. Accordingly after a fall from height, the abdomen should be evaluated by CT scan for potential injury.
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The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of diagnostic sonography in pediatric patients with inguinal hernias. The patients were classified into two groups. Group A included the patients who had been operated upon for inguinal hernia in 1980's, when diagnostic sonography was not available. Group B included the patients, operated upon for inguinal hernia from 2001 to 2002, when inguinal sonography was employed to detect potential bilateral hernias. The age distribution, sex ratio, laterality, bilaterality, and concomitant symptoms were compared between group A and group B. There were 296 cases in group A and 377 cases in group B. The prevalent age group was from 1 to 5 years. There was no difference in age group distribution between both groups. The male to female ratio was 5.3:1 in group A and 3.5:1 in group B. The ratio of unilateral to bilateral hernia was 5:1 in group A and 3:1 in group B. In cases with a unilateral hernia, the ratio of right to left was 1.5:1 in group A and 1.8:1 in group B. In cases with bilateral hernia, the simultaneous bilateral hernia was 33 cases (67.4 %) in group A and 75 cases (80.6 %) in group B. The sequential bilateral hernia was 16 cases (32.7 %) in group A and 18 cases (19.4 %) in group B. Although the ratio of bilateral hernia was increased in group B, the portion of the sequential bilateral hernia was significantly decreased in group B. In conclusion, there were no differences in the age distribution and the laterality between group A and B. The ratio of female patients and the incidence of bilateral hernia were increased in group B even though the portion of the sequential bilateral hernia was decreased. This result shows that the preoperative inguinal sonography in unilateral hernia with potential bilateral hernia is useful in early detection of the sequential contralateral hernia.
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Midgut volvulus secondary to intestinal malrotation usually presents within the first month of life. Diagnostic delay may result in midgut infarction and mortality. In this retrospective study, we review seventeen cases of midgut volvulus to assess the importance of early recognition for midgut volvulus in pediatric patients of any age.. These patients were diagnosed as having a midgut volvulus by operation at Ewha Womans University Hospital. Eleven patients (64.7 %) were less than 1 month of age, and fifteen were boys (88.2 %). The mean gestational age was 38.3 weeks and the birth weight was 3.1 kg. Eight patients (47.1 %) had one or more combined anomalies such as heart malformation, brain ischemia, Down's syndrome or duodenal atresia. Vomiting was the most common symptom. Only thirteen patients underwent preoperative diagnostic procedures; 13 abdominal sonography demonstrated the whirlpool sign in 8 patients, upper gastrointestinal tract roentgenography showed a cork-screw pattern in 7 patients, and barium enema or small bowel series demonstrated positive findings in 7 patients. A Ladd's procedure was was formed on all patients.. There was no mortality or severe morbidity such as short bowel syndrome. Midgut volvulus should be included in the differential diagnosis in any infant or child who presents with the symptoms of acute abdomen, especially with vomiting.
Inguinal hernia is the most frequent problem requiring surgery in children. Moreover, subsequent contralateral occurrence after repair of the symptomatic unilateral inguinal hernia(UIH) is not rare. This study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of inguinal ultrasonography (IUS) for potential bilateral inguinal hernia(BIH). A prospective study was performed for preschool children less than 6 years of age who were diagnosed as UIH from July 1999 to December 2000. We selected 58 cases with potential BIH, based on the past history, such as prematurity, ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, family history of BIH, hernia on the left side (LIH), age below 2, female, and contralateral positive silk glove sign on the physical examination. Screening with IUS and bilateral surgical exploration were applied on these cases. Forty-seven cases were males (81.0%) and 11 cases were females(19.0%). Thirty-four were infants. Symptomatic right inguinal hernia (RIH) were 28 (48.3%), and LIH were 30 cases (51.7%). Six cases had no evidence of contralateral patent process vaginalis (PPV) by IUS but showed contralateral PPV by operation, Two cases were suspicious to contralateral PPV under IUS, but operative findings were negative. Fifty cases showed contralateral PPV by IUS as well as operation. The detection rate of contralateral PPV under IUS was 86.2%. The preoperative IUS may reduce contralateral exploration.
To evaluate the clinical characteristics and results of treatment of fistula-in-ano and perianal abscess in childhood, we analyzed 95 cases of fistula-in-ano and/or perianal abscess seen in childhood, between January 1995 and June 2001 at the Department of General Surgery of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. Perianal abscess was in 25 patients, anal fistula in 62 and combined disease (perianal fistula and abscess) in 8. Male predominance was noted (95 %). Median age was 8 months and 78 % of cases were presented under the age of 1 year. Median duration of symptoms was 60 days. Twenty four abscesses (77 %) and 18 lesions (72 %) of combined disease (n=25) were located on both lateral sides of the anus, and fistulas located on both lateral sides were 33 (53 %). Multiplicity of the lesion was noted in 25 % of cases. Sixteen percent of abscess, 81 % of fistula and 88 % of combination group have had previous perianal abscesses. The perianal abscesses were treated with incision and curreTage and fistulas were treated with fistulotomy or fistulectomy. There were no recurrent diseases and no complications after surgical treatment. Although the progresses of the perianal abscess and fistula in ano in childhood may be self-limitied, surgical management was safe and curable.
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