Management of a Giant Omphalocele with Non-Cross-Linked Intact Porcine-Derived Acellular Dermal Matrix (Strattice) Combined with Vacuum Therapy.

The management of giant omphaloceles at our department is primarily conservative. However, management can be challenging if the omphalocele is ruptured or the sac has to be removed. We report a case in which a giant omphalocele in a newborn female patient was managed by covering the abdominal defect with non-cross-linked intact porcine-derived acellular dermal matrix (Strattice reconstructive tissue matrix, LifeCell Corp.

Learning curve of thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia.

Background: Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia is considered to be one of the more advanced pediatric surgical procedures, and it undoubtedly has a learning curve. This is a single-center study that was designed to determine the learning curve of thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia.

Methods: The study involved comparison of the first and second five-year outcomes of thoracoscopic esophageal atresia repair.

Is complete resection of the aganglionic bowel in extensive total aganglionosis up to the middle ileum always necessary?

Background/purpose: Total colonic aganglionosis is an unusual form of Hirschsprung disease, reflected by the small number of published case studies. The goal of this study was to analyze our cases of the last 22 years and report on our experience with 3 cases of extended total aganglionosis proximal to the middle ileum in which remaining aganglionic bowel was left in situ.

Materials And Methods: In a period of 22 years (from January 1988 to April 2010), we operated on 15 children with total aganglionosis.

Laparoscopic treatment of intestinal malrotation in neonates and infants: retrospective study.

Background: Intestinal malrotation in neonates or infants may require urgent surgical treatment, especially when volvulus and vascular compromise of the midgut are suspected. Successful laparoscopic management of malrotation has been described in a number of case reports. It remains unclear, however, whether laparoscopy for the treatment of malrotation has a success rate equal to that of open surgery and what relative risks exist in terms of conversion and redo surgery in larger numbers of patients.