Two-stage orchiopexy for intra-abdominal testis with short spermatic vessels wrapped in anti-adhesion conduit. 25 years of experience.

Background: Treatment of high cryptorchidism can be challenging, often with frustrating results. We report 25 years of experience in the treatment of the cryptorchidism with very short spermatic vessels using an original two-stage orchiopexy that preserves the spermatic vessels.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical charts of children affected by cryptorchidism with very short spermatic vessels treated through our original surgical approach in tree Institutes of Pediatric Surgery.

Anorectal Malformation with Rectovestibular Fistula and Vaginal Agenesis: Usage of Rectovestibular Fistula as a Neovagina Followed by PSARP with Preservation of the Anal Sphincter.

Anorectal malformation with rectovestibular fistula associated with vaginal agenesis is rare. We report on a child in whom this combination was diagnosed at the age of 1 year. After creation of a divided descending colostomy, we chose to leave the rectum-rectovestibular fistula to function as a neovagina, while the sigmoid colon was relocated via modified posterior sagittal anorectoplasty.

Intrahepatic bile duct primary cilia in biliary atresia.

Aim: The etiopathogenesis of non-syndromic biliary atresia (BA) is obscure. The primary aim was to investigate intrahepatic bile duct cilia (IHBC) in BA at diagnosis and its correlation with clinical outcome. The secondary aim was to analyze IHBC in routine paraffin-embedded liver biopsies using conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Cryptorchidism with short spermatic vessels: staged orchiopexy preserving spermatic vessels.

Purpose: Patients with cryptorchidism can have such short spermatic vessels that it is impossible to place the testicle in a satisfactory scrotal position using conventional orchiopexy. In these cases the most commonly used operation is 1 to 2-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy. We present our surgical experience using staged inguinal orchiopexy without section of the spermatic vessels in patients with short spermatic vessels.

Experimental use of labial mucosa free graft urinary conduit in the Mitrofanoff principle.

Purpose: One method of treating urinary incontinence is to create a catheterizable and continent vesicostomy by the Mitrofanoff principle, based on the use of a conduit, which in the original method is the appendix. The authors present an experimental technique in which a continent vesicostomy is created by the Mitrofanoff principle, using a conduit made of a labial mucosa free graft.

Methods: Six 30-day-old pigs underwent surgery to create a continent vesicostomy by the Mitrofanoff principle.

Congenital dilatation of extrahepatic bile ducts in children. Experience in the central hospital of Hue, Vietnam.

Background/purpose: The authors present a study of a series of cases in children with congenital dilatation of the extrahepatic bile ducts (CDEBD).

Methods: Between November 1998 and October 2002, 38 children aged between 50 days and 15 years suffering from CDEBD, admitted to the Central Hospital in Hue, Vietnam, were treated surgically with a minimum follow-up of one year.

Results: Diagnosis was based only on ultrasonography which was 100% accurate.

Substitution of thoracic oesophagus by interposition of a pedicled gastric tube, preserving LES function: clinical and histological follow-up.

Assessment of clinical evolution and histological findings in a group of animals experimentally operated on to substitute the thoracic oesophagus with a gastric tube. Six piglets underwent oesophageal replacement with a gastric tube, constructed from the greater curvature of stomach and pedicled on the gastroepiploic vessels, which was interposed between the oesophageal stumps. At follow-up, all animals were found to be growing and eating normally, apart from case no 1 (stenosis of the lower oesophageal anastomosis).

Phimosis. Preputial plasty using transversal widening on the dorsal side with EMLA local anesthetic cream.

Background/purpose: In the United States, the treatment of choice for the correction of phimosis is circumcision, whereas in European countries, the condition is usually treated by preputial plasty using Duhamel's method or modified versions. We report our experience in correcting phimosis by preputial plasty using transversal widening on the dorsal side with EMLA local anesthetic cream.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with phimosis were operated on by preputial plasty, under local anesthesia with EMLA cream.

Postoperative radiologic evaluation of the esophagus.

A wide range of surgical procedures are performed for either benign and malignant esophageal lesions, that may be classified as demolitive or conservative interventions. The former is characterized by resection and replacement of the esophagus with another organ, whereas conservative surgery is obtained preserving esophageal function without resection. Knowledge of surgical techniques and major complications is extremely important for a correctly performed radiographic study and a proper interpretation of the imaging findings.

Pyloric atresia: a new operation to reconstruct the pyloric sphincter.

Background/purpose: The standard method of surgical correction of pyloric atresia "solid segment" type is a gastroduodenostomy that can in the long term cause bilious duodenogastric reflux. The authors report 2 cases of pyloric atresia in which the pyloric sphincter was reconstructed by a new technique of gastroduodenal mucosal advancement anastomosis.

Methods: Two premature babies with "solid segment"-type pyloric atresia, one with an associated junctional epidermolysis bullosa, underwent surgery for reconstruction of the pyloric sphincter.

Laparoscopic relief of obstructing folded muscular cuff after transanal pull-through for aganglionosis.

Transanal endorectal resection and colonic pull-through (TERPT) is a good technique for the management of Hirschsprung's disease. This procedure is feasible in the vast majority of patients and is associated with excellent results, early postoperative recovery, and no visible scars. We report the case of a patient who developed early postoperative severe constipation after TERPT due to unusual folding of the muscular cuff rim, which tightly narrowed the pulled-through colon.

Reconstruction of hypospadias and epispadias with buccal mucosa free graft as primary surgery: more than 10 years of experience.

Purpose: The most common techniques to reconstruct the urethra for severe hypospadias or epispadias involve use of the genital skin. Buccal mucosa free graft is usually used in a second operation due to a paucity of usable genital tissue. We report our experience using buccal mucosa free graft as primary surgery for hypospadias and epispadias.

Retroperitoneal abscess and omphalitis in young infants.

Aim: To evaluate the aetiopathogenetic factors in cases of retroperitoneal abscess in young infants, particularly the correlation with omphalitis.

Methods: We describe the cases of two infants, aged 8 and 3 wk, respectively, with a history of omphalitis during the first weeks of life and subsequent development of a retroperitoneal abscess. Both infants underwent surgical drainage of the abscess.

Correction of congenital chordee penis by 'ventral separation and outward rotation of corpora'.

Background/purpose: The formation of congenital chordee penis in patients with or without hypospadias is multifactorial and not completely clear. In most cases, after release of all known causes of chordee, "residual" penile curvature can persist. The authors discuss the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of congenital chordee penis and describe their experience in surgical correction of "residual" penile curvature by "ventral separation and outward rotation of corpora.

Three cases of cardiac hydatidosis: diagnosis, surgical treatment, and complications.

Three cases of cardiac hydatid disease from among the many cases of hydatidosis (>300) in various organs observed by the authors are reported. The sites of the cysts and the complications that arose are described. The first case developed hydatid pulmonary embolism caused by rupture into the right ventricular cavity, the second suffered peripheral hydatid embolism caused by rupture into the left ventricular cavity, and the third, whose diagnosis was fortuitous, had no complications.

Pyloric atresia: an attempt at anatomic pyloric sphincter reconstruction.

Background: The standard method of surgical correction of pyloric atresia is gastro-duodenostomy. The authors report a case of pyloric atresia associated with junctional epidermolysis bullosa, treated with a new technique of pyloric sphincter reconstruction by gastric and duodenal mucosa cul-de-sacs advancement and end-to-end anastomosis.

Methods: The patient was a premature 2,100-g baby girl.

Use of "Gore-Tex surgical membrane" to minimize surgical adhesions in multistaged extrathoracic esophageal elongation for esophageal atresia.

The procedure of choice in the surgical correction of "long gap" esophageal atresia should, when possible, preserve the native esophagus. We present a modification of "the multistaged extrathoracic esophageal elongation method," designed to facilitate esophageal elongation and use of a Gore-Tex (W.L.

Aggressive congenital fibromatosis of the small intestine in the newborn. Report of a case and review of the literature.

A case of so-called congenital fibro(leio)myosarcoma of the small intestine in a 18-day-old female baby, treated only with surgical resection, was studied by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in order to investigate the proliferating cell type. The tumour cells showed positivity only for vimentin and CD 34 and were negative for smooth muscle actin, desmin, alpha-sarcomeric actin, factor VIIIR: Ag and S-100 protein. Ultrastructural findings showed oval nuclei with prominent nucleoli, rare intracytoplasmic mitochondria and well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Asymptomatic gastric perforation by a toothpick. A case report.

Background: Many cases of gastric perforation with peritonitis, pylephlebitis, hepatic abscesses, or lethal bleeding, caused by ingested long and sharp objects, are reported in the literature.

Methods: During a right hepatectomy for a giant hemangioma, a wooden toothpick was found between the two layers of the hepatogastric ligament. It was not possible to find the passage of the foreign body through the gastric wall.

Experimental technique of esophageal substitution: intrathoracic interposition of a pedunculated gastric tube (PGT) preserving cardiac function. Preliminary results.

Background/aims: The authors present an experimental technique performed on piglets to replace a segment of the thoracic esophagus with a gastric tube pedunculated on gastroepiploic vessels transposed between proximal and distal esophageal segments, and consequently preserve cardiac function.

Methodology: Four piglets aged between 30 and 75 days, weight 6-20 kg, underwent esophageal replacement with a gastric tube, length 6-10 cm (mean: 8 cm), constructed from the greater gastric curvature and pedunculated on the gastroepiploic vessels. The gastric tube thus obtained, it was transposed into the right hemithorax through a small opening in the diaphragm.

Congenital carotid-jugular fistula in an elderly patient.

Carotid-jugular arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are extremely rare with only 20 cases reported in the literature up to December 1996. The case of a 74-year-old man (the oldest reported in the literature) with abnormal communications between the external carotid artery and the internal jugular vein is reported. The condition was treated by platinum coil embolization via catheterization and by repeated operations to ligate the branches of the external carotid artery, besides removal of the tissue containing the fistula and ligation of the external carotid at its origin.

Tardive presentation of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung is a neonatal disease not often found after the first year of life and extremely rare in adults. Three cases of CCAM, one in a ten-year-old girl and two in adults, are reported. An understanding of this disease is important because, although relatively rare, it is one of the most frequent causes of neonatal respiratory distress.

Biliary, anorectal and esophageal atresia: a new entity?

A unique case of newborn biliary atresia associated with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula, ano-rectal atresia, Reovirus type 3 infection and an early switch of fetal into adult hemoglobin is reported. At birth, the infant, who had only one umbilical artery, was operated on by primary anastomosis of the esophagous, and descending colostomy. At six weeks of age the baby underwent a "Kasai hepatic portoenterostomy-Type I" for a EHBA Type III, Subtype C2, Subgroup O ("aplasia" of all extrahepatic biliary ducts, including the gallbladder).

A new approach to the problem of surgical wound infections in clean operations.

A study was made of the risk factors causing a high incidence of surgical wound infections in clean operations. Identification of these factors in the preoperative stage allows the patients to be divided into two categories: a high risk (about 10% of patients for surgery) and low risk. By giving antibiotic prophylaxis only to patients at high risk, the incidence of postoperative infections can be reduced, decreasing the number of extra days in hospital and consequently lowering costs.