There is a significant lack of surgeons in the developing world. Malawi Africa is one of the poorest and medically underserved countries in the World, with surgical care particularly lacking. Providing surgical services has numerous barriers, such as availability of well-trained surgeons, infrastructure, continuity of care, and access to care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess (1) plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and urinary levels of electrolytes in children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB), with or without nocturnal enuresis (NE), and (2) the effect of adenotonsillectomy (T&A) on urinary electrolytes and the secretion of ADH and BNP in children with NE and SDB. We previously reported post-T&A improvements in plasma levels of BNP and ADH in children with SDB and NE. However, the differences in plasma concentration of these hormones in SDB children with and without NE, and their relationships with urinary electrolytes, have not yet been addressed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) have both been associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The following were investigated: (1) whether tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (T&A) significantly affect the HRQoL in children with NE and SDB, and 2) differences in HRQoL between children with NE persistence versus resolution post-T&A.
Methods: This was a prospective study comparing the HRQoL of children with SDB and NE (study group) pre- and 4 weeks post-T&A, and the HRQoL of children with SDB without NE (control group) (independent t-tests).
Branchial cleft anomalies make up 30% of all pediatric neck masses, but complete second branchial cleft anomalies are extremely rare. We report an unusual case of a complete second branchial cleft anomaly that presented as a draining neck fistula and a tonsillar cyst in an otherwise healthy 3-month-old girl. At the age of 7 months, the patient had been experiencing feeding difficulties, and there was increasing concern about the risk of persistent infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are seen in the lower respiratory tract in the pediatric population, few cases occurring in the larynx have been reported in the literature. Treatment of choice is complete surgical excision because of risk of recurrence. We describe a case of pediatric subglottic IMT presenting with progressive hoarseness and symptoms of persistent reactive airway treated with potassium titanyl phosphate laser.
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