Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D L Mollitt.
In the "Atlas of Esophageal Atresia" by Kluth, 96 separate types of esophageal/tracheal anomalies are reported. An infant with a type of esophageal atresia that we believe has not been previously reported presented some management difficulties resolved by intraoperative contrast studies.
Ultrasound has proved to be an effective means of monitoring umbilical artery catheters in the neonate for clot formation. Once a large clot has formed, it usually takes several weeks to months before it completely disappears. This is a report of a large clot that spontaneously resolved in ten days.
The nonoperative diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is dependent upon the radiographic finding of pneumatosis intestinalis. A significant number of neonates develop clinical signs compatible with NEC but nondiagnostic radiographs. This can result in delayed, inappropriate, or unnecessary therapy. This paper presents experience with portal vein (PV) ultrasonography in the diagnosis of NEC. Since January 1984, 15 newborns with suspected NEC have undergone PV ultrasonography (mean gestation 33 weeks, mean weight 1,705 g). Each had developed abdominal distention with evidence of sepsis. Stool was positive for occult blood in 11. Abdominal radiographs were interpreted as abnormal but nonspecific in 10 neonates, definite pneumatosis in 3, and normal in 2. No infant had portal vein air on plain abdominal radiograph. Occult PV air was detected by ultrasonography in five infants. These included all infants with obvious pneumatosis, a newborn with a nonspecific radiograph and a neonate with a "normal" x-ray. Of the ten infants without PV air on ultrasound, clinical symptoms resolved without specific therapy in seven. Two infants were proven to have nonenteric sepsis, and the remaining newborn developed intestinal necrosis secondary to aortic thrombus. In the five infants with occult PV air on ultrasound, two subsequently required intestinal resection. The remaining three were treated medically for ten days without sequelae. PV ultrasonography has proven to be a helpful adjunct in the early diagnosis of NEC. This diagnostic maneuver, when applied appropriately, may enable early therapy of the infant with NEC and avoid inappropriate or unnecessary therapy in the suspected case.
Venous access for administration of therapeutic agents and blood sampling has been difficult in the pediatric age group. A subcutaneous injection venous access port, the Infuse-A-Port (Infusaid Corp, Norwood, Mass) has been placed by percutaneous means in 29 patients aged 2 to 24 years. Placement has been under general (16) and local (13) anesthesia. There have been five problems (extravasation 2, suspected sepsis 1, and hematoma 2) during a total of 2,927 days of exposure. The convenience, reliability, safety, and patient acceptance of this venous access port makes this method the preferred choice for prolonged venous access in the pediatric age group.
Circulating lymphocyte profiles and reactivity normally vary with age. Operation results in depression of both lymphocyte counts and blastogenesis but the relationship of age to these alterations has not been previously evaluated in the pediatric surgical patient. This report analyzes the relationship of age to lymphocyte alteration in the postoperative child. Thirty-five healthy children (age range 1 mo to 12 yr), admitted for elective herniorrhaphy, underwent perioperative lymphocyte assay. Anesthesia consisted of halothane and NO2, and operative time averaged 54 minutes. Three milliliters of heparinized whole blood was obtained at induction of anesthesia and at 2 hours postoperatively. Lymphocytes were separated by Histopaque gradient and assayed for absolute count, total T-cells, and total B-cells. Lymphocyte reactivity was determined by 3H-Thymidine incorporation during incubation with the mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed (PWM), and/or concanavalin A (Con A) and results expressed as the logarithm of scintillation counts per minute. Differences in preoperative and postoperative values were analyzed for significance by paired T-test. The same differences were evaluated for relationship to age by regression analysis. Operation resulted in significant decreases in all lymphocyte counts (absolute, T- and B-cells), and the operative-induced alteration in both absolute and total B-cell counts were significantly correlated with age (P less than .03, P less than .007, respectively). Similarly, operation resulted in significant depression of lymphocyte reactivity and alteration in B-cell response (PWM) was significantly correlated with age (P less than .008). In all instances of significant correlation, lymphocyte alterations were inversely related to age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
We have used a modified retrorectal pull-through procedure with a circular anastomotic stapler to fashion the end-to-side colorectal anastomosis in six children with Hirschsprung's disease. The modification allows a more rapid, wide, and precise anastomosis than previous techniques, and has been done without complications.
Ultrasonography has proven to be a helpful imaging modality in evaluating the child with a distended gasless abdomen. The presence of an unsuspected mass can easily be detected as well as the presence of ascites and/or abnormally dilated loops of small bowel. Thickened loops of bowel can also be easily detected in the abdomen with very little gas. Closed loop obstruction and intussusception, as well as meconium ileus equivalent (distal intestinal obstruction syndrome), are described.
The risk of malignant change in a congenital nevocellular nevus is approximately 10 percent and is the chief indication for early excision. In 90 percent of patients, removal is simple; the remainder present with major cosmetic deformities and are difficult to manage successfully. Seventeen children (newborn to 17 years of age) were treated, including 11 children with localized lesions and 6 children who presented with abnormalities that covered 5 to 50 percent of the total body surface area. In those cases not amenable to primary removal, serial excision was performed at an average of 6 month intervals. Staging was determined by the softening and mobility of the surrounding tissue at follow-up evaluation. No effort was made to provide a cosmetic closure until the final stage. Utilizing this technique, complete removal of congenital nevocellular nevi is possible without the need for disfiguring skin grafts, even for the giant variety. Early excision obviates the risk of malignancy and provides satisfactory cosmetic results.
A 17 cm hepatoblastoma was unresectable at initial exploration. Multiagent chemotherapy (ADR, CTX, VCR, 5FU, BLEO) incurred minimal response at 5 months. Infuse-A-Ports were placed in each hepatic artery and FUDR infused intermittently but there was no response at 6 weeks. Adriamycin and vincristine were then begun via the Infuse-A-Port, with prompt regression of the tumor mass. The intra-arterial course was continued 3 months. Repeat arteriography showed vascular distortion but exploration revealed no gross tumor. A persistent alpha-feto-protein elevation prompted repeat arteriography 4 months afterward. A 3 cm calcific tumor was removed via an extended left lobectomy. Selective hepatic arterial infusion appeared to potentiate chemotherapy after systemic chemotherapy had failed to produce sufficient cytoreduction to allow safe surgical excision. The intra-arterial chemotherapy for unresectable hepatoblastoma warrants further investigation.
Children riding three-wheeled motorcycles have recently become victims of serious or fatal accidents. Twelve children (aged 3 to 12 years, mean, 8.7 years) all white, sustained serious or fatal injuries as a result of striking objects or overturning while riding these vehicles. The injured children were preadolescent, white, rural, male, and from relatively affluent families. Most injuries were to the head and upper torso causing severe cosmetic and functional deficits. Our experience suggests the need for better regulations for these vehicles when being ridden by children.
A significant percentage of children who are fecally incontinent are so from improper operation or failure to recognize a surgically correctable problem. Over the past five years, we have managed ten children who had operations for anorectal problems and two with anterior anus. Seven were seen after poorly positioned pull-through procedures for imperforate anus and had anal repositioning, four successfully. Gracilis sling was successful in two of the other three. In two children overflow after a Duhamel operation for Hirschsprung's disease was corrected by division of a persistent anorectal septum. The third child with a disrupted Duhamel procedure was cured by anolevatorplasty. In two children an anterior ectopic anus was made continent by posterior anoplasty. Primary and secondary deviations from proper anatomy of the anorectal region will result in incontinence, which may be recognized by physical examination and defecograms. Proper operation usually produces acceptable continence.
A hard, fixed mass on the chest wall is usually considered to be malignant. Of 24 such lesions we have evaluated in children, only eight (33%) were malignant. Six of the eight children with malignant masses died of the disease. Benign lesions were often indistinguishable from malignant lesions by physical or roentgenographic examination, and histologic diagnosis was often difficult. Small lesions could be excised en bloc without significant deformity. Seven masses were the product of indolent infection, indicating that cultures should be obtained. Larger lesions should have adequate biopsy to direct the proper sequence of subsequent radical operation, irradiation, and chemotherapy. The defect created by radical operation is closed with polypropylene mesh and/or flap coverage. With this graded approach, the majority of children with chest wall lesions will survive with minimal deformity.
Pectus excavatum occurs in two thirds of children with Marfan's syndrome. The characteristics of seven children with Marfan's syndrome and pectus excavatum were compared with those of 38 children who had pectus excavatum without Marfan's syndrome. The children with Marfan's syndrome presented later, had progressive defects, and were more likely to have wound problems; however, acceptable cosmetic and functional results after chest wall repair were obtained in the patients with Marfan's syndrome.
Utilizing the sequence of contrast radiography, gastric technetium scintigraphy, and 24-hour pH probe, 30 of 46 (65%) neurologically impaired patients, referred for feeding gastrostomy, were demonstrated to have gastroesophageal reflux and underwent a Nissen fundoplication and gastrostomy. There was no evidence of reflux in the remaining 16 (35%) and a gastrostomy alone was performed. Four infants (aged 2 to 13 months) subsequently developed progressive vomiting from 2 to 8 months following gastrostomy placement. Repeat evaluation documented postoperative reflux in three. All four underwent a Nissen fundoplication with relief of their symptoms. Gastroesophageal reflux following gastrostomy may have been produced by an alteration in anatomy or progressive neurologic dysfunction. In all likelihood, however, it was present but undetected preoperatively. An antireflux procedure was required following gastrostomy in 25% of neurologically impaired patients with an initial negative reflux evaluation. Additionally, primary fundoplication in this group was associated with 10% incidence of recurrent symptoms. The high incidence of postoperative reflux, as well as the morbidity associated with gastrostomy in face of gastroesophageal reflux, warrants careful follow-up of the brain damaged patient with feeding gastrostomy.
Hydrops fetalis is classically the result of immune mediated intrauterine hemolysis. Increasingly, however, nonimmunologic abnormalities have been associated with fetal anasarca. A number of these are potentially surgically correctable. Four such infants have been treated at the Arkansas Children's Hospital since 1981. Fetal hydrops was detected prenatally in three, as well as lesions which might be corrected. All three were delivered by cesarean section with vigorous resuscitation required. Following stabilization, each underwent operation with excision of an intrathoracic mass (teratoma and leiomyosarcoma) in two and closure of omphalocele in the remaining neonate. A fourth infant was transferred following spontaneous premature vaginal delivery with hydrops and respiratory distress. This was associated with adenomatoid malformation which was subsequently excised. Anasarca and respiratory distress resolved postoperatively in all. With evidence of nonimmune hydrops, a thorough evaluation for surgically correctable lesions is indicated. A planned aggressive approach to delivery, resuscitation and stabilization followed by prompt surgical intervention can improve the morbidity associated with nonimmune hydrops fetalis having surgically correctable malformations.
Since 1979 nine children have undergone excision of gastroduodenal pancreatic rest. In three, these lesions were incidental findings at the time of unrelated surgery. The remaining six underwent resection for relief of abdominal symptoms. There were four boys and two girls. The ages ranged from 4 months to 13 years. Symptoms were directly related to age. Three children (6 months, 8 months and 4 years) were admitted for recalcitrant post-prandial vomiting. The remaining three (11, 12, and 13 years) were hospitalized for chronic midabdominal pain. Contrast radiographic studies were normal in three. An antral filling defect was noted in one and edematous proximal duodenum with poor peristalsis in the remaining child. Endoscopic examination and biopsy documented pancreatic rest in all six cases. All were located in the immediate vicinity of the pylorus. The size ranged from 0.5 to 2 cm in diameter. Each child subsequently underwent excision with relief of symptoms. Pancreatic rest is functioning pancreas. Its presence in the prepyloric region may incite pylorospasm, delayed emptying and gastric distention and become clinically apparent with vomiting and/or abdominal pain. Documentation of gastroduodenal pancreatic rest in the symptomatic child with an otherwise normal evaluation may warrant excision.
Surgery is generally believed to be an immunodepressant. This assumption is based, in part, upon studies of compromised patients undergoing major operation. Similar studies in normal adults following elective procedures are contradictory and little information is available regarding the pediatric surgical patient. This paper presents a study of immune function in children undergoing elective operation. Fifty healthy preoperative children (mean age: 20 months) were randomly selected. Ninety-five percent underwent inguinal herniorrhaphy. Operative time averaged 45 minutes (range: 30 to 90 minutes). Anesthesia consisted of Halothane and Nitrous Oxide in all cases. Approximately 2.5 cc of heparinized blood and 0.5 cc of serum were obtained immediately prior to and 2 hours following operation. Half of the children underwent assays of neutrophil function including absolute count, random migration, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and bacterial killing. Serum was examined for opsonization of Staphylococcus aureus using the chemiluminescence method. The remaining children underwent lymphocytic quantitation including absolute count, total T cells, total B cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells, and T-helper/suppressor ratio. Absolute neutrophil count increased 2.4 times preoperative values (P less than 0.01). There were, however, no significant alterations in neutrophil functional capabilities. Similarly, there was no alteration in serum opsonic capacity. There was a significant decrease in absolute lymphocyte count (6560-4013, P less than 0.01) postoperatively, and T cells, T-helper, T-suppressor, and B cells were all significantly affected (P less than 0.01 to 0.02). There was no change in the T-helper/suppressor ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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