Development in the surgical treatment of acute appendicitis: A single-center experience.

Purpose: Laparoscopy has become the treatment of choice for acute appendicitis. The aim of the study was to compare open (OA) and laparoscopic (LA) approaches in all forms of acute appendicitis.

Methodology: Two hundred and ninety-two children underwent appendectomy (238 LA/54 OA).

Prospective Study on Several Urinary Biomarkers as Indicators of Renal Damage in Children with CAKUT.

Purpose:  The aim of the study was to investigate urinary levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), β-2-microglobulin (β2M), and FAS-ligand (FAS-L) in children with congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) disease at risk of developing glomerular hyperfiltration syndrome. For this reason, we selected patients with multicystic kidney, renal agenesia and renal hypodysplasia, or underwent single nephrectomy.

Materials And Methods:  This prospective, multicentric study was conducted in collaboration between the Pediatric Surgery Unit in Foggia and the Pediatric Nephrology Unit in Bari, Italy.

Limits and advantages of abdominal ultrasonography in children with acute appendicitis syndrome.

Background: Graded compression ultrasonography (US) has become the most popular technique used in suspected appendicitis and in our prospective study, we have evaluated its contribution to the diagnosis of acute appendicitis during the period 2010-2013.

Materials And Methods: Four hundred and eighty children underwent urgent abdominal suspected of having acute appendicitis. Patients were divided into operated groups; (220 patients) and non-operated (260 patients) the final diagnosis was established on histopathological findings in the first group and on the phone interview in the second one.

Sigmoid volvulus in a neonate: case report and review of literature.

Sigmoid volvulus (SV) is an extremely rare cause of bowel obstruction in the newborn period. We report a neonatal case of SV misdiagnosed as small bowel volvulus. At laparotomy, the classical findings of SV were observed without gangrene.

Laparascopic-assisted nephroureterectomy for shaped urolithiasis and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: case report and review of literature.

We report a case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) complicated by shaped urolithiasis, severe hydroureteronephrosis and kidney exclusion treated by laparoscopic-assisted nephroureterectomy. A 9 year-old boy was referred to us for recurrent episodes of urinary tract infection, abdominal pain and severe hydronephrosis. Abdominal CT and a Tc-99m MAG3 scan showed a non-functioning obstructed kidney with shaped urolithiasis of the distal ureter.

Renal impairment and moderate alcohol consumption in the elderly. Results from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA).

Objective: The influence of moderate alcohol consumption on renal function is not clear in elderly people. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and renal function, expressed as serum creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rates (GFR), in an elderly population.

Design: Perspective cohort study.

Nephrectomy for multicystic dysplastic kidney and renal hypodysplasia in children: where do we stand?

Objectives: Little is reported in literature regarding correct management of benign lesions of the kidney. The aim of our study is to present a series of total and partial nephrectomies performed in the last 5 years and to discuss indications.

Materials And Methods: Patients with benign lesions who underwent nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy at our institution in the period 2003-2008 were retrospectively included in the study.

Technical standardization of laparoscopic herniorraphy in pediatric patients.

Background: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is rarely reported in pediatric patients. We report our experience on this topic to show the standardization of the technique.

Methods: In a 3-year period we operated 315 patients for unilateral inguinal hernia using laparoscopy.

Fast-track surgery of the colon in children.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to present the "fast-track" experience in children who underwent colon resection.

Materials And Methods: Forty-six children who underwent laparoscopic colon resection were prospectively included in the study. Anomalies of colon innervation and inflammatory bowel disease represented the main surgical indications.

Spleen surgery in pediatric age: seven-year unicentric experience.

Background: Either "open" and laparoscopic spleen surgery in pediatric age are well known and performed with ease in children. Yet, few data regarding follow-up and outcome are discussed in the international literature.

Materials And Methods: Clinical notes of all patient who underwent spleen surgery in a single center between 2000 and 2007 were reviewed and a specific follow-up questionnaire was administered, aiming to evaluate pre- and postoperative data, especially considering underlying disease, cosmetic results, and quality of life after surgery.