Epidemiology of adhesions in infants and children following open surgery.

Adhesions following intra-abdominal surgery are a major cause of small bowel obstruction. The nature of surgical interventions in children (especially neonates) increases the risk of adhesion-related complications. Following laparotomy in neonates, the collective literature reveals an aggregate mean incidence of adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) of 6.

10-year outcome of children born with anorectal malformation, treated by posterior sagittal anorectoplasty, assessed according to the Krickenbeck classification.

Background: Anorectal malformations (ARMs) affect 1 in 4000 to 5000 births. The Krickenbeck conference developed a classification based on anatomical and functional criteria to better compare treatment outcome.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional outcome in patients 10 years following standardized surgical treatment of ARM related to the Krickenbeck classification.

Calcific parasite or surgical miscellany?

This article highlights the difficulties posed by initial radiological investigations that misleadingly interpreted a linear opacity in the ascending colon of a 2-year-old to be a complicating calcified Ascaris. Final surgical management revealed an unusual cause for the tram tracking effect so pathognomonic of Ascaris infestation. Of interest are the images of the abdominal x-ray, ultrasound scan, and barium study.