Missed or delayed diagnosis of anorectal malformations: a review of the literature, current training and practice in the UK in relation to detection via the NIPE programme.

Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are a spectrum of congenital anomalies where there is abnormal development of the anus and rectum. With an incidence of 1:5000 live births and affecting both males and females, these anomalies vary in their appearance and presentation, lack features enabling antenatal detection and should be detected at birth by the examining midwife or within 72 hours through the newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) screening programme. However, it is recognised that the diagnosis of ARMs can be missed or delayed leading to morbidity and mortality.

Outcomes at five to eight years of age for children with Hirschsprung's disease.

Objective: This study describes core outcomes of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) in a UK-wide cohort of primary school-aged children.

Design: A prospective cohort study conducted from 1 October 2010 to 30 September 2012. Outcomes data were collected from parents and clinicians when children were 5-8 years of age, and combined with data collected at birth, and 28 days and 1 year post diagnosis.

Patients' experience of portacaths in cystic fibrosis: questionnaire-based study.

Backgrounds And Aims: Portacaths are regularly used in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). We aimed to assess patient satisfaction with lateral chest wall portacaths in children with CF.

Methods: All children in a geographical region with CF and portacath in situ were identified.

Neonatal stomas: does a separate incision avoid complications and a full laparotomy at closure?

Purpose: Enterostomy formation is a common outcome in emergency neonatal laparotomy. No consensus exists regarding optimal stoma site. This study aims to identify incidence of complications and closure details related to position of stomas.

Screening of testicular descent in older boys is worthwhile: an observational study.

Background: Testicular descent in boys is now routinely screened only once, at 6-8 weeks of age. Early surgery for undescended testes is recommended.

Aim: To assess the value of screening for testicular descent at 6-8 weeks, 8-9 months, and 39-42 months of age.

Bilious vomiting in the newborn: how often is further investigation undertaken?

Background/purpose: Pediatric surgeons consider bile vomiting in the neonate a potential surgical emergency. The reported rate of surgical intervention is 30% to 40%, but as most neonates are born outwith pediatric surgical centers, referral of these babies is at the neonatologists' discretion. The aim of this study was to determine the referral policy of neonatologists in the West of Scotland for a neonate with bile vomiting.

Colour of bile vomiting in intestinal obstruction in the newborn: questionnaire study.

Objectives: To identify the colour that different groups of observers thought represented bile in a newborn's vomit.

Design: Questionnaires displaying eight colours (pale yellow to dark green).

Setting: General practices in Glasgow, postnatal ward and level III special care baby unit in a university teaching hospital, and mother and toddler groups in Glasgow.

Extracorporeal life support as a treatment of supraventricular tachycardia in infants.

There have been few reports of the use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) to provide cardiac support in children with low cardiac output as a result of arrhythmias. We present two patients in whom venoarterial ECLS was used to provide support for cardiogenic shock secondary to intractable supraventricular tachycardia. In both cases, the arrhythmia terminated once bypass was established.