Transabdominal manually assisted reduction of pediatric intussusception: reappraisal of this historical technique.

Purpose: To determine whether manual manipulation of the abdomen during intussusception reduction improves the success rate or affects morbidity.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 38 cases of intussusception in 35 children over a 33-month period at a pediatric hospital. In all cases, pneumostatic pressure was used as the initial method of treatment.

CO2 laser urethroplasty in the rabbit: a preclinical model.

Our previous work has shown that the CO2 laser can be successfully used in urethral reconstruction in a rat model. This new experiment investigates the use of the CO2 laser to perform a patch graft urethroplasty in the rabbit, as a preclinical model to its use in the repair of hypospadias in humans. Using sterile technique, a patch graft of preputial skin was welded in the repair of a standardized urethral defect in 10 rabbits.

Aortic pseudoaneurysm due to ingested foreign body.

We have described a child with pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta caused by an ingested safety pin, who survived this life-threatening injury in which the diagnosis was elusive for four months. Esophageal foreign bodies, especially sharp, pointed ones, can cause such a cardiovascular complication. A high index of suspicion is imperative if the diagnosis is to be made early.