Pericardial effusion as a rare complication of a perforated appendicitis.

Introduction: Whilst pericardial effusion is a known complication of abdominal pathology, it is rarely reported following ruptured appendicitis and even more rarely requires drainage in that situation. This work has been reported in line with the SCARE criteria (Agha et al., 2016).

The effect of convective heating on evaporative heat loss in anesthetized children.

Background: Convective warming is effective in maintaining core temperature under anesthesia. It may increase evaporative water loss (EWL). If significant, further investigation of warming modifications to minimize this impact would be warranted.

Is there thermal benefit from preoperative warming in children?

Aim: We aimed to quantify the impact of a raised preoperative ambient temperature (T(ambient)) on core temperature (T(core)) after induction of anesthesia in children.

Background: It has been suggested that prewarming of patients before anesthesia induction reduces postinduction drop in T(core). Neither the prewarming temperature nor its duration is established for adults or children.

Predicting the efficacy of convection warming in anaesthetized children.

Background: We previously described a convection warming technique (Cassey J, Armstrong P, Smith GE, Farrell PT. Paediatr Anaesth 2006; 16: 654-62). This study further analyses the children in that original study with three aims: (i) to investigate factors purported to influence children's heating rates, (ii) to describe the most effective usage of this warming technique, and (iii) to understand better the physiology of convection warming.

Paraumbilical block for umbilical herniorraphy.

Background: Umbilical herniorraphy is a common paediatric surgery day case. Paraumbilical blocks have previously been reported to provide excellent analgesia for umbilical hernia repairs.

Methods: Local anaesthesia through a paraumbilical block was compared with local infiltration.

Elective orchidopexy in the paediatric population: a trial of intra-operative spermatic cord block.

It is well established that pre-emptive and multimodal analgesia improve pain control and decrease narcotic use as well as the length of stay. Whilst some form of local anaesthetic (LA) block is almost routine for most inguinal procedures in children, the best modality is uncertain for orchidopexy. We sought to explore as to whether the addition of spermatic cord block (SCB) to our standard ilio-inguinal block (IIB) in this situation had any impact on analgesic requirements post-operatively.

Cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma.

Cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma is a relatively rare tumour of the kidney usually affecting infants. Cystic Wilms' tumour and multilocular cystic nephroma should be distinguished from cystic partially differentiated nephroblastoma. Multilocular cystic nephroma is a benign tumour whereas cystic Wilms' tumour is at the malignant end of the range of classification of such tumours.

Convection heating in pediatric general surgery - a comparison of warming alternatives in a mannequin study.

Background: Numerous methods of patient warming are used to prevent intraoperative hypothermia in children. Commercially available forced air warming blankets are effective, but are single-use items. We tested a custom-designed heat dissipation unit (HDU) against one such commercially available blanket.

The safety and effectiveness of a modified convection heating system for children during anesthesia.

Background: Convection heating shows most promise in maintaining children's core temperatures under anesthesia. We have previously shown that a modified convection heating technique worked in a mannequin model and sought to establish its safety and effectiveness in a clinical study.

Methods: Children were recruited who were having elective surgery under general anesthesia lasting >90 min.

Management of antenatally detected fetal airway obstruction.

Five cases of antenatally diagnosed fetal airway obstruction have been cared for at the John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, Australia. A multidisciplinary team manages them during the perinatal period. We present our technique at the time of delivery, which aims to afford us the greatest flexibility in managing both the mother, her child's airway, and the underlying lesion.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings of a foregut duplication cyst of the floor of the mouth in a fetus.

The MRI findings are described in a case of foregut duplication cyst arising from the floor of the mouth in a fetus.

Foregut duplication cyst arising in the floor of mouth.

Enteric duplications are uncommon. A rare foregut duplication cyst arising in the floor of mouth is reported. Diagnosis of cystic lesion within the oral cavity was made in utero.

Influence of control variables on mannequin temperature in a paediatric operating theatre.

Background: Core temperature drops in all children having general anaesthesia. Convection heating may be useful, but its effectiveness in the paediatric setting is not established. Additionally, its utility in many paediatric situations is limited by blanket design.

Lost bits: particle shedding with polyvinyl chloride intravenous administration sets.

Silicone particles have been demonstrated in the effluent from silicone intravenous (IV) tubing. It has been widely suspected that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles are also lost. We sought to clarify the situation in a carefully controlled laboratory setting using the apparatus and flow rates common in a paediatric setting, using scanning electron microscope techniques (SEM), we found that particles were indeed shed from IV tubing during use, but they were not PVC.

An evaluation of the Faces Pain Scale with young children.

The psychometric characteristics of the Faces Pain Scale (FPS) were evaluated in three groups of preschool and school-aged children (3. 5-4.5; 4.

Evaluation of long-term central venous patency in children with chronic venous catheters using image-directed Doppler ultrasonography.

All children in the Oncology Unit in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh who had had long-term central venous catheters removed between 1987 and 1991 underwent central venous assessment by image-directed Doppler ultrasound scanning techniques. In this study, the implant vein remained patent after decannulation, and we believe should be re-accessed rather than moving to another site.

Omentectomy with peritoneal catheter placement in acute renal failure.

Catheter function was retrospectively analysed after surgical placement in 21 children requiring peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure due to haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Substantial benefits were shown to have accrued from partial omentectomy which resulted in reliable access and trouble-free drainage in the 11 patients in whom it was carried out. Conversely 4 of 10 patients in whom partial omentectomy was not done experienced total catheter blockage whilst the other 6 experienced intermittent poor drainage.

Urinary tract calculi in aboriginal children.

Forty-three Aboriginal children with urinary tract calculi are reviewed. There was a preponderance of male children and the majority presented early in life with urinary tract infection. Associated gastrointestinal and other problems were also common.

'Hypafix': new technique of skin graft fixation.

A new technique for split skin graft fixation using 'Hypafix' adhesive dressing is described. Ninety-three patients with burns involving less than 20% body surface area grafted at the Adelaide Children's Hospital during February 1985-May 1987 were reviewed. Comparisons were made between the results of standard fixation and Hypafix methods.

Totally implantable system for venous access in children with cystic fibrosis.

Thirteen children with cystic fibrosis had a totally implantable reservoir surgically inserted for repeated courses of intravenous antibiotics. The youngest patient was 17 months at the time of implantation. The catheters have been in place for an average of 463 +/- 200 days.

Acute pancreatitis: results of a protocol of management.

To assess prognostication and therapy of 100 patients with acute pancreatitis, a randomized prospective multicentre clinical trial was commenced in August 1982. This study examines the usefulness of four parameters (sex, age, serum amylase and serum aspartate aminotransferase), coincidentally used as part of accurate and reliable prediction of severity of disease, in predicting gallstone aetiology, with an accuracy of 82%. The cost effectiveness and morbidity associated with the treatment of pancreatitis is also examined; patients with mild to moderately severe pancreatitis are better managed with a peripheral intravenous crystalloid solution and routine ward observations, rather than with supplementary urinary catheter and antibiotics.

Predictors of severity of attacks of acute pancreatitis.

In an attempt to reduce the current morbidity and mortality from acute pancreatitis, a prospective randomized multicentre trial was begun in August 1982. Part of this study involved an attempt to develop a set of prognostic indices which would identify patients with severe pancreatitis on the day of admission to hospital. An analysis of a predetermined set of 10 indices (age, blood pressure, white cell count, blood urea, serum calcium, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, blood glucose, arterial blood pH and PO2) on admission to hospital, in 100 patients, is presented.