Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been utilized in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients with severe respiratory failure unresponsive to conventional medical treatment. We retrospectively reviewed 12 CDH patients who were treated using ECMO in our center between April 2008 and February 2011. The pre ECMO and on ECMO variables analyzed included gestational age, sex, birth weight, age at the time of ECMO cannulation, arterial blood gas analysis results, CDH location, timing of CDH repair operation, complications and survival. There were 9 boys and 3 girls. All patients were prenatally diagnosed. Mean gestational age was 38.8 ± 1.7 weeks and mean birth weight was 3031 ± 499 gram. Mean age at the time of ECMO cannulation was 29.9 ± 28.9 hours. There were 4 patients who survived. Survivors showed higher 5 min Apgar scores (8.25 ± 0.96 vs. 7.00 ± 1.20, p=0.109), higher pre ECMO mean pH (7.258 ± 0.830 vs. 7.159 ± 0.986, p=0.073) and lower pre ECMO PaCO2 (48.2 ± 7.9 vs. 64.8 ± 16.1, p=0.109) without statistical significance. The hernia was located on the left side in 10 patients and the right side in 2 patients. The time interval from ECMO placement to operative repair was about 3~4 days in 5 early cases and around 24 in the remaining cases. There were 3 cases of post operative bleeding requiring re operation and 2 cases of abdominal compartment syndrome requiring abdominal fascia reopening. ECMO catheter reposition was required in 4 cases. Three cases of arterial or venous thrombosis were detected and improved with follow up. Our data suggests that ECMO therapy could save the lives of some neonates with CDH who can not be maintained on other treatment modalities. Protocolized management and accumulation of case experience might be valuable in improving outcomes for neonates with CDH treated with ECMO.

Currarino syndrome is a hereditary syndrome characterized by the triad of a sacral bony defect, presacral mass and anorectal malformation. We retrospectively reviewed 13 Currarino syndrome patients who were treated in our center between 1997 and 2010. Demographic data, initial symptoms, initial diagnosis, pathologic diagnosis of presacral mass, associated anomalies and managements were analyzed. There were 8 boys and 5 girls. Four patients were diagnosed as Currarino syndrome immediately after birth with failure of passage of meconium and abdominal distension. Four patients underwent surgery for imperforate anus immediately after birth and were diagnosed as Currarino syndrome later and underwent reoperation. Three patients were diagnosed during work-up and management with of the tentative diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Diagnosis of the remaining two patients was at the age of 26 months and 9 years and anorectal malformation was not associated. Twelve patients showed hemi-sacrum and one patient showed bilateral sacral subtotal agenesis. Two patients without anorectal malformation underwent presacral mass excision, untethering of spinal cord and repair of myelomeningocele. Six out of 8 patients, excluding 3 that expired or were lost to follow up, with anorectal malformation underwent colostomy, presacral mass excision, untethering of spinal cord, repair of myelomeningocele, posterior sagittal anorectoplasty and colostomy repair. One patient underwent only posterior sagittal anorectoplasty after colostomy. One waits the scheduled operation only with Hegar dilatation. Pathologic examation of presacral masses showed myelomeningoceles in 4 patients, lipomyelomeningoceles in 3 patients and dermoid cyst in one patient. Teratoma was combined in 2 patients. Eight patients needed neurosurgical operation for spinal cord problems. Seven patients had urologic anomalies and two of them underwent operation. Currarino syndrome should be considered as a differential diagnosis in pediatric patients with abdominal distension, constipation and anorectal malformation. For proper evaluation and treatment, a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) has various clinical presentations and due to the limitation of imaging studies, pre-operative diagnosis is a challenge in pediatric patients. Recently, laparoscopic exploration has been suggested as a favorable method for the diagnosis and treatment of complicated MD. We investigated the results of laparoscopic-assisted surgery compared with open technique. We retrospectively studied patients who underwent resection of complicated MD at our institute from 1997 to 2010 and compared 11 treated by laparoscopic-assisted diverticulectomy (LD) with 11 treated by open diverticulectomy (OD) for complicated MD. Operation time was not significantly different in the two groups. Hospital stay and time to diet were not significantly different. Two patients were re-admitted due to mechanical ileus in the LD group. None of patients in either group needed re-operation. Considering the possibility of false-positive results with imaging studies and the cosmetic benefit, laparoscopic-assisted surgery is a safe and effective treatment modality to diagnose and treat complicated Meckel's diverticulum.

Malignant ovarian tumors in children are very rare, and consist of about 1% of all childhood malignant tumors. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis for children with malignant ovarian tumors. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children under 15 years of age with malignant ovarian tumors who had been treated surgically at Asan Medical Center between 1989 and March 2009. There were 32 patients, ranged in age at surgery from 2 to 15 years (mean; 10.4 years). The median follow-up period was 64.7 months (from 1 month to 188 months). Pathologic diagnosis were; immature teratoma (n=10), mixed germ cell tumor (n=10), and dysgerminoma (n=6). Tumor stage was classified by the staging system of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). The number of patients in stage I, II, III, and IV were 24 (75%), 2 (6.2%), 4 (12.5%), and 2 (6.1%), respectively. The tumor recurred in 4 patients. Seven patients of group 1 did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and in three of them, the tumor recurred. Twenty-five patients (group 2) underwent postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and there was only one recurrence. One patient who did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and expired 10 months after operation because of tumor recurrence and distant metastasis. The overall 5-year event free survival (EFS) was 84.2%: group 1 in 44.4%, and group 2 in 95.7%. Tumor recurrence was related to the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.004). In conclusion, proper surgical procedures with relevant postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy might improve clinical results in children with malignant ovarian tumors.

Hickman catheters are tunneled central venous catheters used for long-term venous access in children with malignancies. The appropriate management for various kinds of catheter related complications has become a major issue. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, demographic, and surgical characteristics in 154 pediatric hemato-oncology patients who underwent Hickman catheter insertion between January 2005 and December 2009. There were 92 boys and 62 girls. The mean age at surgery was 7.6±5.1 years old. The mean operation time was 67.4±21.3 minutes and C-arm fluoroscopy was used in 47(30.5%). The causes of Hickman catheter removal were termination of use in 82 (57.3%), catheter related bloodstream infection in 44(30.8%), mechanical malfunction in 11(7.7%), and accidents in 6(4.2%). Univariate and multivariate analysis for associated factors with catheter related bloodstream infection showed that there were no statistically significant associated factors with catheter related infection complications. All cases except two showed clinical improvement with catheter removal and relevant antibiotics treatment. The mean catheter maintenance period in patients of catheter removal without complications was 214.9±140.2 days. And, The mean catheter maintenance period in patients of late catheter related bloodstream infection was 198.0±116.0 days. These data suggest that it is important to remove Hickman catheter as soon as possible after the termination of use. When symptoms and signs of complications were noticed, prompt diagnostic approach and management can lead to clinical improvements.