Experience of General Surgery Residents in the Creation of Small Bowel and Colon Anastomoses.

Background: With the introduction of stapling devices (SDs), the proportion of hand-sewn (HS) intestinal anastomoses (IAs) has declined. As more IAs are constructed with SDs, there are fewer opportunities for general surgery residents (GSRs) to acquire the skills for HS techniques during their training.

Study Design: Data for this study were extracted from an existing database of all IAs performed at the Department of Surgery of the Morristown Medical Center since 2003.

Tracheal diverticula after tracheoesophageal fistula repair: case series and review of the literature.

Background: Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is the most common congenital tracheal abnormality, frequently associated with esophageal atresia. Respiratory symptoms are associated with all types of TEF, even after surgical repair of the fistula. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) with aspiration of gastric contents, structural instability of the airways (tracheomalacia), abnormal respiratory epithelium, abnormal esophageal motility, recurrent TEF, and esophageal stenosis contribute to postsurgical complications.

Symptomatic pelvic accessory spleen.

Accessory spleens are found most commonly at the splenic hilum, however, they rarely are symptomatic. An 18-year-old man presented with lower abdominal pain. Cross-sectional imaging studies with 3-dimensional reconstruction suggested the presence of a mass that was associated with the spleen.

Laparotomy versus peritoneal drainage for necrotizing enterocolitis and perforation.

Background: Perforated necrotizing enterocolitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants, and the optimal treatment is uncertain. We designed this multicenter randomized trial to compare outcomes of primary peritoneal drainage with laparotomy and bowel resection in preterm infants with perforated necrotizing enterocolitis.

Methods: We randomly assigned 117 preterm infants (delivered before 34 weeks of gestation) with birth weights less than 1500 g and perforated necrotizing enterocolitis at 15 pediatric centers to undergo primary peritoneal drainage or laparotomy with bowel resection.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric cardiac transplantation.

Background: We reviewed a single institution experience with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the perioperative management of cardiac transplantation.

Methods: Of all pediatric cardiac transplant candidates (1984-2003), patients requiring ECMO pretransplantation/posttransplantation were identified, with particular attention to use of ECMO as a bridge to transplantation. Parameters reviewed included proportionate survival, incidence of pre-ECMO cardiac arrest, ECMO duration, and United Network for Organ Sharing list time.

Strongyloides appendicitis: unusual etiology in two siblings with chronic abdominal pain.

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute surgical disease in children and young adults. Parasites, however, are one of the uncommon etiologies. An 8-year-old girl and her 7-year-old sister presented with more than 2 months of chronic abdominal pain that became worse over a 1-week period before presentation.