Evolving experience in the management of pleural empyema.

The objective of this study was to determine treatment strategies for children admitted with pleural empyema. We reviewed the medical records of 93 consecutive patients with pleural empyema who presented in the last three years. Mean age was 3.

Extrathoracic liver hamartoma.

Mesenchymal hamartoma is a benign tumor of the liver that often presents because of a palpable abdominal mass or respiratory distress. An unusual protrusion of this tumor through the chest wall of a neonate with Poland's syndrome is reported.

Neonatal gastric perforation: review of 23 years' experience.

Purpose: To review our experience of treating 13 neonates with gastric perforation (GP) over the past 23 years.

Methods: The records of all 13 patients were reviewed, noting gender, weight, gestational age, age at admission, associated anomalies, site of perforation, type of operation, and clinical outcome.

Results: There were 11 boys and 2 girls, with a mean body weight of 2 375 g, including 4 (45%) preterm infants.

Intestinal rotation anomalies in childhood: review of 22 years' experience.

Purpose: We review our experience of treating intestinal rotation anomalies in infants and children in the 22-year period between 1978 and 2000.

Methods: The type of operation performed, postoperative complications, and mortality were compared in three age groups. Group 1 consisted of neonates <1 month old, Group 2 consisted of infants aged <1 year old, and Group 3 consisted of children aged >1 year old.

Management of esophagogastric corrosive injuries in children.

There has been an increase in the number of patients admitted to our hospital with caustic esophageal injuries during the last five years. The aim of this study was to analyze the complications and results of the treatment of corrosive esophagogastric injury. Between 1990 and 2000, 120 caustic ingestion accidents were admitted to our unit.