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Biomedical subjects

A A Mahomed

Publications and source records attributed to A A Mahomed.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Laparoscopic nephrectomy for unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney in children.

The contemporary management of children with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney remains controversial. With the potential risks of hypertension, infection, and malignant transformation of the dysplastic kidney, conservative management necessitates long-term review with frequent ultrasound scans, urine analyses, and blood pressure checks. Operative management has traditionally used open nephrectomy with its associated patient morbidity. The introduction of laparoscopic procedures has allowed the development of techniques that reduce patient morbidity, hospital stay, and analgesia requirement. This article reports a series of 13 children who underwent elective laparoscopic nephrectomy for unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney and discusses the advantages this procedure has to offer for their management.

Child↗

Outcome after intra- and extra-corporeal laparoscopic appendectomy techniques.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the outcome after intracorporeal (IC) and extracorporeal (EC) laparoscopic appendectomy technique in a single institution over a 5-year period. METHODS: Records of all children ( n = 60) who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy at the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital between February 1997 and March 2002 were retrieved and evaluated. Observations were made regarding operative technique, anesthetic time, intra- and postoperative complications, postoperative analgesic requirement, and postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: There were 30 children in each group who had a similar demographic profile. The magnitude of appendicitis severity in both groups was similar. The mean anesthetic time was 67.8 min for the IC group and 50.7 min for the EC group (p = 0.001). There were no recorded intraoperative complications, although a single case in the EC group required conversion to open procedure. The postoperative analgesic requirement in both groups was similar. The mean postoperative stay was 2.1 days in the IC group and 2.5 days in the EC group. Two postoperative complications were noted in the IC group; one intraperitoneal collection and one postoperative chest infection. Four complications occurred in the EC group; one intraperitoneal collection and three minor port-site wound infections. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' experience shows the EC technique to be significantly quicker, although with a slightly increased complication rate. Either technique can be applied safely for acute appendicitis.

Adolescent↗

Laparoscopic decapsulation of congenital splenic cysts: a step forward in splenic preservation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of laparoscopic decapsulation in the management of congenital splenic cysts in children. METHODS: Patients who presented over the last decade with congenital splenic cysts and were treated with laparoscopic decapsulation were reviewed retrospectively. The authors performed 4 procedures in 3 patients aged 10, 11 (and later 13), and 13 years. In all cases there was progressive enlargement of a single cyst, which lay in the upper pole of the spleen in 3 instances and in the lower pole in the fourth. Pneumoperitoneum was induced using the Veress needle technique, and 3 or 4 ports were utilized. Cysts were aspirated initially before marsupialization with excision of around two thirds of the cyst wall. Both endoshears and the harmonic scalpel were used with good hemostatic effect. RESULTS: All patients had a good outcome with cyst resolution on long-term follow-up using serial ultrasound scanning. The first patient (in 1993) remained 3 days as an in patient postoperatively, and the others stayed overnight only. One patient had a new cyst near the first 30 months after the initial procedure. This again was dealt with laparoscopically, with patient discharge the following day. There were no complications in the short or long term. Histology in all cases confirmed a simple epithelial cyst. Median follow-up was 2 years (range, 6 months to 8 years). CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that laparoscopic decapsulation is an effective means of managing congenital splenic cysts and that both harmonic scalpel and endoshears are satisfactory dissecting instruments. Extensive marsupialization is probably unnecessary in these larger cysts, because long-term follow-up has shown no increased risk of recurrence after leaving a significant proportion of the cyst wall behind. This approach helps avoid major surgery in these cases.

Adolescent↗

Congenital funnel anus: investigation and novel management strategy.

Congenital funnel anus is a rare and poorly documented condition in which treatment strategies are still evolving. The authors present 2 cases and describe the findings after magnetic resonance imaging along with the treatment regime used successfully in these children.

Anal Canal↗

Enterobius vermicularis and perianal sepsis in children.

Specific aetiological factors are responsible for a significant proportion of cases of perianal sepsis in children. A rarely implicated pathogen is Enterobius vermicularis, an obligate parasite with a ubiquitous presence in children. The authors describe two unequivocal instances of threadworm involvement in perianal sepsis, suggesting a pathophysiological basis.

Antinematodal Agents↗

Laparoscopy in the diagnosis and management of a complicated paraovarian cyst.

Paraovarian cysts account for 10% of adnexal masses and are most common in the 3rd and 4th decades of life. They vary from small asymptomatic lesions to larger cysts, which may undergo hemorrhage or torsion. Children are rarely affected, and the diagnosis--particularly if pain presents in the right lower quadrant--may be difficult because the differentials diagnosis is wide. We report the case of a child who presented with a complicated paraovarian cyst. Laparoscopy enabled immediate diagnosis and appropriate management. We discuss the role of laparoscopy and the value of the Harmonic Scalpel in the management of these rare cysts.

Adolescent↗

The presentation and management of juvenile-onset chronic inflammatory bowel disease in Northeastern Scotland.

PURPOSE: This study reviews the presentation and management of juvenile onset chronic inflammatory bowel disease and identifies changes in incidence of the disease over a 20-year period. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of all patients aged 16 and under with chronic inflammatory bowel disease diagnosed in 1 health region between 1980 and 1999. The patients were identified from computer records and the following variables studied: age, sex, mode of presentation, medical and surgical management, and length of follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred seven patients were identified: 77 with Crohn's disease and 30 with ulcerative colitis. The incidence of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease has risen from 0.7 in 100,000 and 2.2 in 100,000, respectively, in the years 1980 through 1989 to 1.5 in 100,000 and 4.4 in 100,000 in the period 1990 through 1999. The median age at presentation was 10.1 years for ulcerative colitis and 10.8 years for Crohn's disease. The majority of disease was diagnosed within 1 year of the onset of symptoms, which were principally abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. The average length of follow-up was 6.9 years. Analysis of the surgical management of Crohn's patients has shown a low rate of surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown an increasing incidence of chronic inflammatory bowel disease in the Grampian region of Scotland coupled with a low rate of surgical intervention in Crohn's disease. These findings could be the result of early referral and diagnosis, with the disease being documented earlier in its course or more aggressive preemptive medical therapy.

Abdominal Pain↗

Is there a role for balloon dilatation of pelvi-ureteric obstruction in children?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of balloon dilatation with double J stenting in the management of children with pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction. METHODS: A retrospective study of a 4-year experience of PUJ balloon dilatation in children was conducted in a single unit. Information was collected on patient demographics, clinical presentation, the procedure of balloon dilatation, renal function, and antero-posterior renal pelvis diameter both pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: There were 10 patients with a median age of 12.5 years (range, 21 months to 15 years). Four cases presented with ipsilateral flank pain, 3 with urinary tract infection, and 3 were discovered incidentally. Retrograde dilation was performed in all cases. Dilation was considered an initial success in 8 of 10 cases, and 1 patient deteriorated after 17 months. Double J stents were placed in all cases and remained in situ for a median of 7.5 weeks (range, 7 to 8.5). Median in-hospital stay was 2 days. Median follow-up was 34 months (range, 7 to 48). Ipsilateral renal excretion times (on MAG III isotope scanning) improved markedly from a median of 84 minutes (range 13 to 200) preoperatively to 7 minutes (range, 1 to 200) at 3 months and 7 minutes (range 1 to 113) at 12 months postoperatively. Median pelvic AP diameter reduced from 30 mm (range 22 to 74) to 16 mm (range, 8 to 36) at 2 months and 10 mm (range, 4 to 41) at 7 months. There were 2 immediate failed procedures, both occurred in patients who went on to open pyeloplasty and were found to have aberrant renal vessels causing extrinsic PUJ compression. One child deteriorated between 10 and 17 months and went on to open pyeloplasty. Twenty-two patients underwent open pyeloplasty in the unit during the same time period with a 95% success rate. Median stay was longer at 5 days and median age younger at 22 months (range, 6 weeks to 13 years). CONCLUSION: Balloon dilatation is a viable option in the management of PUJ obstruction, carrying minimal morbidity in experienced hands.

Adolescent↗

Laparoscopy in a case of pediatric blunt abdominal trauma.

The use of laparoscopy in the assessment and treatment of blunt abdominal trauma has been reported for both adults and children. With increasing surgical experience and improvements in equipment, an expanding range of therapeutic interventions is available. The management of a 7-year-old boy who sustained blunt abdominal trauma during a fall from a bicycle is described. He was hemodynamically stable, but his abdomen remained tender, with guarding in the right upper quadrant. Serial ultrasound scans showed a thick-walled gallbladder and increasing intraabdominal fluid. Laparoscopy was used both as a diagnostic tool, and then as a therapeutic method. Diagnostic laparoscopy showed a ruptured gallbladder treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A 3-cm grade 1 liver laceration also was identified, which required no intervention. Free bile was aspirated and the peritoneal cavity thoroughly lavaged. The child made a rapid postoperative recovery. The ultimate aim in the management of blunt trauma is to avoid unnecessary laparotomy while preventing undue delay in the detection of significant intraabdominal pathology. Computed tomography scanning, ultrasound scanning, and diagnostic peritoneal lavage all have strengths for detecting different injury types, but they also have a low specificity in determining the need for laparotomy. The advantages and limitations of laparoscopy in hemodynamically stable children who have sustained injuries from blunt trauma are discussed. The authors recommend laparoscopy in experienced hands as an additional tool for the optimal management of selected trauma cases.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Acute appendicitis: the continuing role for active observation.

We present the results of a 6-year review of appendicitis. In the event of diagnostic doubt, a policy of active observation was instituted. This review endorses the validity of such a policy, indicating that it does not expose patients to increased morbidity. Data were collected prospectively over a 6-year period on 1,479 children admitted with suspected acute appendicitis (AA); 1,028 (69.5%) were discharged with a diagnosis of non-specific abdominal pain after a mean observation period of 2.5 days, whilst in the remaining 451 a clinical diagnosis of AA was confirmed. The male-to-female ratio was equal, with no difference in the mean age of males (11 years) or females (12 years); 95% of patients were over the age of 5 years. In 324 (72%) cases surgery was performed on the day of admission, whilst in the remaining 126 (28%) it was deferred for 1 to 6 days because the clinical diagnosis of AA remained doubtful. The mean hospital stay was 4 days (range 1-32). Analysis of the histological reports of all 451 cases confirmed a positive predictive value for clinical assessment alone of 97.9% and a normal appendicectomy rate of 2.6%. No mortality was observed; surgical morbidity was recorded at 6% with no correlation between postoperative morbidity and timing of surgery evident (Spearmans correlation coefficient = -0.079, p = 0.9). Active observation for suspected AA thus remains a valid technique for achieving an accurate diagnosis and successful outcome.

Acute Disease↗

Recurrent cervical abscess: life-threatening presentation of chronic granulomatous disease in twin infants.

Non-identical male twins presented at 12 and 13 weeks of life, respectively, with recurrent cervical abscesses and signs of imminent upper-airway obstruction (UAO). Despite adequate initial surgical drainage, airway patency became seriously jeopardised in both cases by recurrent abscess formation requiring further intervention. Chronic granulomatous disease was eventually diagnosed in both cases. The unusual presentation of this rare condition with life-threatening UAO in twin infants, a scenario not previously described, is reported and a management protocol suggested.

Abscess↗

Primary cricopharyngeal achalasia in infancy--myotomy treatment of choice.

Dysphagia secondary to primary cricopharyngeal achalasia (PCA) is infrequently seen in paediatric patients. Two female children with PCA who had recurrent attacks of aspiration pneumonia are presented. A cricopharyngeal myotomy was successfully performed in both cases, confirming its efficacy. Investigation and management of this rare condition are reviewed.

Airway Obstruction↗

Abdominoscrotal hydrocoeles: little place for conservatism.

Abdominoscrotal hydrocoeles (ASH) are infrequently reported in children. The presence of bilateral ASH is even rarer, with fewer than five cases reported to date. ASH are present at birth and tend to be progressive in nature. Spontaneous resolution has not been documented. The pathogenesis is uncertain and their presence in the neonatal period suggests a preformed abnormality of the processus vaginalis. Diagnosis is suspected on clinical examination and confirmed by ultrasonography, which is a reliable diagnostic tool. Undescended testes frequently coexist. Early surgery is the preferred management, and complications are frequent if left unattended. Surgery is simply an extension of a hernia operation, without the need for a laparotomy.

Cryptorchidism↗

Mediastinal lipoma in children.

Mediastinal masses are uncommonly encountered in childhood. These tumours are often interesting because of the varied mediastinal tissues from which they arise. Despite extensive investigations, a large percentage of these lesions remain undiagnosed prior to operation. We describe two rare cases of mediastinal lipoma. The first was incidentally diagnosed whereas the second patient presented with respiratory symptoms. The definitive diagnosis was established at surgery, which was curative.

Child↗