T-tube ileostomy for meconium ileus: four decades of experience.

Background/purpose: The T-tube ileostomy was first used at Texas Children's Hospital in 1959. The purpose of this study is to update the experience since the initial report of this technique in 1981.

Methods: A database of 448 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) seen in the authors' institution was used to identify 83 patients (18.

Postoperative ad lib feeding for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare three methods of postoperative feeding after pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS).

Methods: The authors reviewed retrospectively the charts of 308 patients who underwent pyloromyotomy for HPS from 1984 to 1997. Nineteen patients had prolonged hospitalization for other reasons and were excluded from the study, leaving 289 patients for analysis.

The role of surgery in the management of pediatric pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma.

Purpose: We assessed the role of surgery, particularly exenteration, in the treatment of children with lower urinary tract and pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma.

Materials And Methods: We treated 23 children with bladder and/or prostate (11), or pelvic retroperitoneal tumors (12). Initial management was tumor resection in 6 cases, anterior pelvic exenteration in 5 and biopsy only in 12, combined with chemotherapy in 23 and radiotherapy in 20.

Congenital lung cysts.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM), pulmonary sequestration, congenital lobar emphysema (CLE), and bronchogenic cysts are all congenital malformations of the lung that present in imaging studies as abnormal air, air/fluid, or fluid-filled cysts. The embryology, histology, clinical presentation, and treatment of these lesions are discussed based on world literature and our experience with 22 operative resections of congenital lung cysts over the past 10 years. The roles of prenatal diagnosis and fetal surgery in the management of certain lung cysts are considered.

Limy bile syndrome.

Limy bile syndrome (LBS) is a rare condition in which a radiopaque gallbladder and/or bile ducts are noted on plain roentgenograms. LBS is caused by calcium carbonate precipitation in the bile and is usually associated with distal biliary tract obstruction. The etiology of limy bile syndrome is unclear; however, it may be a long-term complication of total parenteral nutrition.

Emergency center arteriography in the evaluation of suspected peripheral vascular injuries in children.

During the 6-year period from 1983 to 1989, 109 children aged 3 to 18 years (mean, 16) with suspected peripheral vascular injuries underwent 113 emergency center arteriograms (ECA) performed by hand injection of contrast material using a single roentgenographic film. The most common indication for ECA was the proximity of the injury in 93 (82.3%) of the cases as penetrating injury accounted for 106 (94%) of the cases.

Current management of laryngeal and laryngotracheoesophageal clefts.

Laryngeal and laryngotracheoesophageal clefts (L-LTEC) are uncommon anomalies in neonates that cause significant morbidity secondary to aspiration, pneumonia, and respiratory distress. Other anomalies of development, such as esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF), are observed in 20% of patients with L-LTEC and often confuse the radiographic and clinical picture. Repair of L-LTEC depends on the length and location of the cleft, associated anomalies, and concurrent systemic illness.

Ventriculoatrial shunting via the azygos vein.

The treatment of hydrocephalus has evolved through many stages but the "cure" is still elusive. It is not unusual for the neurosurgeon to find that the commonly used routes for catheter placement or sites for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cannot be employed. The azygos vein was used to gain access to the right atrium when the CSF could not be drained into the peritoneal cavity, nor could the neck veins be used to place the catheter into the right atrium.

Thyroid nodules in children: current profile of a changing disease.

Pediatric thyroid disease has changed since the decline of widespread cervical irradiation. Our analysis of 32 recently resected childhood thyroid nodules showed that the incidence of malignancy (22%) is decreasing, though the incidence of nodules is stable. Risk factors for development of thyroid disease include female sex, age around puberty, family history of thyroid disease, previous or coexisting thyroid disease, and history of a medical condition that may be steroid- or endocrine-related.

Central venous catheters in older children.

This report discusses the safety of 89 cuffed, Silastic (Dow Corning, Midland, MI) catheters placed in children between the ages of 1 and 18, a group that may be considered high risk on the basis of age. The overall complication rate was once every 288 days, three times more often than in published results in adults, but less often than in other pediatric series. The sepsis rate of once each 1236 days was almost twice the adult rate.

Small bowel obstruction as a complication of Kawasaki disease.

A case of small bowel obstruction in an 8-month-old infant with Kawasaki disease is described. At laparotomy a discrete area of jejunal stricture with adhesions was noted. Microscopic examination revealed evidence of small artery thrombosis.

Bilateral Wilms' tumor.

Recent studies indicate a favorable outcome with bilateral Wilms' tumor. From 1971 to 1985, ten children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years were treated for this disease. During the early part of the series, five patients had nephrectomy on one side and partial nephrectomy on the other side, and one patient had bilateral partial nephrectomies at the same operation.

Major duodenal injuries in children: diagnosis, operative management, and outcome.

The diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of ten children less than 13 years old operated on for major duodenal injuries is reviewed. Three had gun shot wounds with perforation and seven had blunt trauma resulting in duodenal disruption. Of those with blunt trauma, three had massive injuries requiring immediate operation, and four had what appeared to be lesser injuries.

Late presentations of midgut malrotation in children.

Malrotation of the intestine may become symptomatic in the older child and may manifest itself in atypical presentations. Older children may present with symptoms of less than 72 hours duration which are typical of acute duodenal obstruction. More frequently, however, the older child with malrotation will present with chronic abdominal pain with or without vomiting or chronic diarrhea.

Psoas abscess in children.

In children, psoas abscess does not head the list in the differential diagnosis of the child who presents with a limp or lower abdominal pain. Therefore, the road to this diagnosis can be long and complicated leading to numerous studies and specialty consultations. Over a 7-year period, seven psoas abscesses have been drained surgically.

Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in childhood.

In this review of 50 children with gallbladder disease in Houston, Texas, there were an equal number of patients with and without hemolytic disease and a slight predominance of males in both groups. Nearly all had been symptomatic for a prolonged period before diagnosis and cholecystectomy. Common early diagnoses were hemolytic crisis and appendicitis.

Morgagni hernias during infancy: presentation and associated anomalies.

Morgagni hernias during infancy are associated with significant respiratory symptoms as well as other congenital anomalies, particularly congenital heart disease. During the past 6 years we have had the opportunity to treat five infants less than 1 year of age with Morgagni hernias. A review of the literature revealed an additional seventeen detailed case reports of infants with Morgagni hernias.

Resection with primary anastomosis for necrotizing enterocolitis.

Primary anastomosis following the resection of bowel for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) can be done with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Twenty-seven patients are reported with three deaths. Primary anastomosis will avoid problems seen with small-bowel stomas.

Gastroschisis and omphalocele.

The experience of 73 consecutive infants with gastroschisis and omphalocele is reported. The overall survival rate was 80 percent; however, since 1973 the survival rate for ruptured and intact omphaloceles has been 87 percent and 93 percent for gastroschisis. This remarkable reduction in mortality has been attributed primarily to the advent of total parenteral hyperalimentation, but mortality has also decreased due to the use of pediatric respirators which overcome the effects of increased intraabdominal pressure, and the creation of the neonatal intensive care unit where monitoring of these often fragile infants and the presence of specialty personnel assist in their care.

Intestinal stenosis resulting from necrotizing enterocolitis.

Fourteen infants with intestinal stenosis as a late sequela of necrotizing enterocolitis were treated at Texas Children's and Ben Taub General Hospitals from 1972 to 1979. Barium enema studies are the keystone in making the diagnosis and should be performed in any infant with abdominal distention or poor feeding after recovery from acute necrotizing enterocolitis. Spontaneous resolution of stenosis is a definite clinical entity, and nonobstructed infants should be given a trial for resolution.