Thoracotomy patch repair of large diaphragmatic herniae in a porcine model: a tale of two patches.

Purpose: Congenital diaphragmatic herniae (CDH) may require patch closure in 50% of the cases. We assessed a biologic and composite mesh in a porcine CDH model.

Methods: Left sided thoracotomy was performed in 20 pigs.

Publishing trends in Journal of Paediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery International and European Journal of Pediatric Surgery over the past three decades.

The aim of this study was an analysis of the changing publication trends over the last three decades in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery (JPS), Pediatric Surgery International (PSI) and European Journal of Pediatric Surgery (EJPS) by studying the bibliometric variables, authorship, collaboration, and citation trends. A previously applied methodology using intermittent years was applied to review the archives of JPS, PSI and EJPS over the last 30 years. Citation data were collected from the Web of Science database.

Developmental outcome at 3 years of age of infants following surgery for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Purpose: The study compared neurodevelopmental outcome at 3 years of age of infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) who underwent pyloromyotomy with healthy control infants in New South Wales, Australia.

Methods: Infants with IHPS as well as controls were recruited between August 2006 and July 2008. Developmental assessments were performed using the Bayley scales of infant and toddler development (version III) (BSITD-III) at 1 and 3 years of age.

Elevated Preoperative Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio is Predictive of a Poorer Prognosis for Pediatric Patients with Solid Tumors.

Background: An elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to indicate poorer prognosis for adults with solid tumors and potentially represents an independent, universal adjunct prognostic factor. The value of NLR in a pediatric setting has not been evaluated. This study sought to determine the prognostic value of NLR for pediatric patients with solid tumors.

A bibliometric analysis of pediatric liver transplantation publications.

Citation counts can identify landmark papers. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the top-cited articles in the pediatric liver transplantation literature. A search strategy for the Scopus database was designed for pediatric liver transplantation publications from 1945 to 2014.

Pediatric burns research: A history or an evolution?

Background/purpose: Pediatric burns research has increasingly been recognized as a sub-specialty of its own. The aim of this study was to assess and analyze the publication patterns of the pediatric burns literature over the last six decades.

Methods: A search strategy for the Web of Science database was designed for pediatric burns publications, with output analyzed between two periods: 1945-1999 (period 1) and 2000-2013 (period 2).

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) does not worsen vomiting in children.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the rate and examine potential predictors of subsequent anti-reflux procedures in a population undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) insertion.

Materials: We retrospectively reviewed the pre- and post-operative clinical course of patients undergoing PEG insertion over a 10-year period with respect to indication, underlying co-morbidity, and GER investigation and management.

Results: We reviewed data on 170 patients.

Does Functional Outcome Improve with Time Postsurgery for Hirschsprung Disease?

Purpose: Constipation and incontinence are significant problems following pull-through surgery for Hirschsprung disease (HD). There is evidence that these problems improve with time. However, there is also evidence showing no improvements and furthermore, significant long-term data are lacking for the newer endorectal pull-through.

The use of the trapdoor incision for access to thoracic inlet pathology in children.

Lesions at the thoracic inlet are difficult to access via a thoracic or cervical approach. The use of the anterior cervico-thoracic trapdoor incision has been reported to give good exposure to the anterior superior mediastinum in adults. We report our experience of four cases where a trapdoor incision was used to gain excellent access and exposure to thoracic inlet pathology in children.

Patterns of internet use by parents of children attending a pediatric surgical service.

Purpose: The internet has revolutionised the way we search for information. We determined the level of internet use by parents of children attending general surgical services and identified trends in online information-seeking behaviour.

Methods: A questionnaire based on the work by Boston and Tassone was distributed to parents attending both the day surgical units and surgical outpatients department in a paediatric tertiary referral centre.

Publication patterns on neonatal surgery over 65 years.

Background/purpose: Staying abreast of the literature in a given speciality is difficult. The aim of this study is to analyze the publication patterns of the neonatal surgical literature over the last six decades.

Materials: A search strategy for the Web of Science database was designed using MeSH defined terms for 10 index neonatal surgical conditions, with output analyzed over two time-periods.

Are routine dilatations necessary post pull-through surgery for Hirschsprung disease?

Introduction: We aim to compare the anastomotic stricture and enterocolitis rates between groups who either had or did not have anal dilatations (AD or NAD) prescribed routinely post pull-through surgery for Hirschsprung disease (HD); by this means, we will evaluate the benefit of routine dilatations.

Methods: A retrospective review of the records of all children operated on for HD between 1997 and 2010 was performed. Associated Down syndrome and total colonic aganglionosis were excluded.

Scrotal exploration for acute scrotal pain: a 10-year experience in two tertiary referral paediatric units.

Objective: Acute scrotal pain is a common presentation to the paediatric emergency department. Testicular torsion is one of the most common causes of acute scrotal pain. Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency requiring immediate surgical exploration to prevent permanent testicular damage or loss.

Comparative review of functional outcomes post surgery for Hirschsprung's disease utilizing the paediatric incontinence and constipation scoring system.

Purpose: We aim to analyze differences in functional outcomes in children operated on for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) using the Paediatric incontinence/constipation scoring system (PICSS) validated in a normative group.

Methods: A retrospective review of the records of all children operated on for HD between 1997 and 2010 was performed. Patients had either a Soave or transanal endorectal pull-through.

Urinary incontinence in children: botulinum toxin is a safe and effective treatment option.

Purpose: This study's aim was to assess the use of intravesical injection of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) as a treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) in children.

Methods: A 6-year retrospective study of children who received BoNT-A for OAB was performed. Treatment outcome was classified as complete success (CS), partial success (PS) or treatment failure (TF).

Serum proteomic profiling reveals that pretreatment complement protein levels are predictive of esophageal cancer patient response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Objective: To identify serum-based biomarkers predicting response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (neo-CRT) in esophageal cancer.

Purpose: Increasingly, the standard of care for esophageal cancer involves neo-CRT followed by surgery. The identification of biomarkers predicting response to therapy may represent a major advance, enabling clinical trials and improved outcomes.

Increased spontaneous apoptosis, but not survivin expression, is associated with histomorphologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer.

Purpose: Survivin has been shown to be an important mediator of cellular radioresistance in vitro. This study aims to compare survivin expression and apoptosis to histomorphologic responses to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) in rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six pre-treatment biopsies were studied.