Identifying Preoperative Clinical Characteristics of Unexpected Gastrointestinal Perforation in Infants-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Infants presenting with unexpected pneumoperitoneum upon abdominal X-ray, indicating a gastrointestinal perforation (GIP), have a surgical emergency with potential morbidity and mortality. Preoperative determination of the location of perforation is challenging but will aid the surgeon in optimizing the surgical strategy, as colon perforations are more challenging than small bowel perforations. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide an overview of preoperative patient characteristics, determine the differences between the small bowel and colon, and determine underlying causes in a cohort of infants with unexpected GIP.

Ernica Clinical Consensus Statements on Total Colonic and Intestinal Aganglionosis.

Background: Hirschsprung disease is a congenital intestinal motility disorder characterized by an absence of enteric ganglion cells. Total colonic aganglionosis and near total or total intestinal aganglionosis, defined as absence of ganglion cells in the entire colon and with variable length of small bowel involved, are life-threatening conditions which affect less than 10 % of all patients with Hirschsprung disease. The aim of this project was to develop clinical consensus statements within ERNICA, the European Reference Network for rare congenital digestive diseases, on four major topics: Surgical treatment of total colonic aganglionosis, surgical treatment of total intestinal aganglionosis, management of poor bowel function in total colonic and/or intestinal aganglionosis and long-term management in total colonic and or intestinal aganglionosis.

Appendicitis and its associated mortality and morbidity in infants up to 3 months of age: A systematic review.

Background And Aims: Although appendicitis is rare in young infants, the reported mortality is high. Primary aim of this systematic review was to provide updated insights in the mortality and morbidity (postoperative complications, Clavien-Dindo grades I-IV) of appendicitis in infants ≤3 months of age. Secondary aims comprised the evaluation of patient characteristics, diagnostic work-up, treatment strategies, comorbidity, and factors associated with poor outcome.

Additional Anomalies in Children with Gastroschisis and Omphalocele: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Congenital abdominal wall defects might be associated with other anomalies, such as atresia in gastroschisis and cardiac anomalies in omphalocele patients. However, in the current literature, an overview of these additional anomalies and potential patient-specific risk factors is missing. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of associated anomalies and their patient-specific risk factors in patients with gastroschisis and omphalocele.

Cardiac anomalies in children with congenital duodenal obstruction: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiac anomalies occur frequently in patients with congenital duodenal obstruction (DO). However, the exact occurrence and the type of associated anomalies remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to aggregate the available literatures on cardiac anomalies in patients with DO.

Transition Zone Pull-through in Patients with Hirschsprung Disease: Is Redo Surgery Beneficial for the Long-term Outcomes?

Introduction: Transition zone pull-through (TZPT) is incomplete removal of the aganglionic bowel/transition zone (TZ) in patients with Hirschsprung disease (HD). Evidence on which treatment generates the best long-term outcomes is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term occurrence of Hirschsprung associated enterocolitis (HAEC), requirement of interventions, functional outcomes and quality of life between patients with TZPT treated conservatively to patients with TZPT treated with redo surgery to non-TZPT patients.

Variability in the Reporting of Baseline Characteristics, Treatment, and Outcomes in Esophageal Atresia Publications: A Systematic Review.

Introduction:  As survival rates of infants born with esophageal atresia (EA) have improved considerably, research interests are shifting from viability to morbidity and longer-term outcomes. This review aims to identify all parameters studied in recent EA research and determine variability in their reporting, utilization, and definition.

Materials And Methods:  Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review of literature regarding the main EA care process, published between 2015 and 2021, combining the search term "esophageal atresia" with "morbidity," "mortality," "survival," "outcome," or "complication.

The Incidence of Associated Anomalies in Children with Congenital Duodenal Obstruction-A Retrospective Cohort Study of 112 Patients.

Background: Duodenal obstruction (DO) is a congenital anomaly that is highly associated with other anomalies, such as cardiac anomalies and trisomy 21. However, an overview of additional anomalies and patient-specific risk factors for cardiac anomalies is lacking. Potential association with the vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, trachea-esophageal, renal and limb anomalies (VACTERL) spectrum remains unknown.

Dynamic Compression Therapy for Pectus Carinatum in Children and Adolescents: Factors for Success.

Background: Pectus carinatum (PC) is a congenital chest wall deformity. In childhood, it is increasingly treated with dynamic compression therapy. Factors for success for dynamic brace therapy are relatively unknown.

Determining the Correct Resection Level in Patients with Hirschsprung Disease Using Contrast Enema and Full Thickness Biopsies: Can the Diagnostic Accuracy be Improved by Examining Submucosal Nerve Fiber Thickness?

Background: Intraoperative resection level in patients with Hirschsprung disease (HD) is determined by contrast enema, surgeon's intraoperative judgement and full thickness biopsy (FTB) identifying ganglia. This study aims to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of contrast enema and FTB in determination of resection level and whether this can be improved by measuring submucosal nerve fiber diameter.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed contrast enema and intraoperative FTBs obtained in our center, determining diagnostic accuracy for level of resection.

Routine contrast enema prior to stoma reversal seems only required following treatment for necrotizing enterocolitis: An evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of the contrast enema.

Introduction: Contrast enemas are often made prior to stoma reversal in order to detect distal intestinal strictures distal of the stoma. If untreated these strictures can cause obstruction which might necessitate redo-surgery. However, the value of contrast enemas is unclear.

Implementing Nonoperative Treatment Strategy for Simple Pediatric Appendicitis: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: A nonoperative treatment strategy (NOT) with antibiotics for children with simple appendicitis could reduce anesthesia and surgery-related complications. As the implementation of a new treatment in routine clinical practice may take years, this study aims to identify barriers and facilitators for implementation of NOT for children with simple appendicitis.

Materials And Methods: To identify barriers and facilitators for its implementation, we conducted 14 semistructured interviews and a focus group with health insurance/hospital policymakers, surgical clinicians, and young people-together with their parents-who have been treated surgically or with antibiotics.

Risk factors for complications in patients with Hirschsprung disease while awaiting surgery: Beware of bowel perforation.

Background: Patients with Hirschsprung disease (HD) mostly undergo surgery around the age of three to six months. While awaiting surgery, therapy to treat the obstruction such as transanal irrigation (TAI) or laxatives is applied. The aim of this study was to gain insight in the prevalence and severity of complications occurring while awaiting surgery and to identify patient characteristics associated with the development of these complications.

Familial Experience With Hirschsprung's Disease Improves the Patient's Ability to Cope.

Introduction: Familial occurrence of Hirschsprung's disease may have a positive effect on patients' ability to cope with the disease. The aim was to compare long-term bowel function and generic quality of life between patients with familial and non-familial Hirschsprung's disease.

Methods: This was a nationwide, cross-sectional study in which we included all 830 Hirschsprung patients of 8 years and older who had undergone surgery between 1957 and 2015.

Identification of the optimal treatment strategy for complex appendicitis in the paediatric population: a protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study (CAPP study).

Introduction: In daily practice large heterogeneity in the treatment of children with complex appendicitis exists. Complex appendicitis can be divided into two subtypes; complex appendicitis with and without appendiceal mass and/or abscess. As complex appendicitis is associated with high morbidity and costs, identification of the optimal treatment strategy is essential.

Major stoma related morbidity in young children following stoma formation and closure: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Little is known about stoma related morbidity in young children. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess major morbidity after stoma formation and stoma closure and its associated risk factors.

Methods: All consecutive young children (age ≤ three years) who received a stoma between 1998 and 2018 at our tertiary referral center were retrospectively included.

Functional Outcomes After Surgery for Total Colonic, Long-Segment, Versus Rectosigmoid Segment Hirschsprung Disease.

Objectives: Knowledge on long-term outcomes in patients with Hirschsprung disease is progressing. Nevertheless, differences in outcomes according to aganglionic lengths are unclear. We compared long-term bowel function and generic quality of life in Hirschsprung patients with total colonic or long-segment versus rectosigmoid aganglionosis.

Treatment of jejunoileal atresia by primary anastomosis or enterostomy: Double the operations, double the risk of complications.

Purpose: No study has evaluated complication rates of the combined operations needed for temporary Enterostomy compared to primary anastomosis in the treatment of Jejunoileal Atresia. Therefore the aim of this study is: 1) to compare the occurrence of severe postoperative complications (defined as Clavien-Dindo ≥III within 30 days) and 2) to compare the occurrence of different short- and long-term complications following treatment for Jejunoileal atresia either by primary anastomosis or the combined Enterostomy procedures.

Methods: All consecutive neonates treated for Jejunoileal Atresias between January 1998 and February 2021 at our tertiary academic centres were retrospectively included.

Hypothermic Machine Perfusion as a National Standard Preservation Method for Deceased Donor Kidneys.

Background: Recently, continuous nonoxygenated hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) has been implemented as standard preservation method for deceased donor kidneys in the Netherlands. This study was designed to assess the effect of the implementation of HMP on early outcomes after transplantation.

Methods: Kidneys donated in the Netherlands in 2016 and 2017 were intended to be preserved by HMP.

Neurodevelopmental outcome of patients with congenital gastrointestinal malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Children with congenital gastrointestinal malformations may be at risk of neurodevelopmental impairment due to challenges to the developing brain, including perioperative haemodynamic changes, exposure to anaesthetics and postoperative inflammatory influences. This study aggregates existing evidence on neurodevelopmental outcome in these patients using meta-analysis.

Method: PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed articles published until October 2019.

Risk factors for enterocolitis in patients with Hirschsprung disease: A retrospective observational study.

Introduction: Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) accounts for substantial morbidity and mortality in patients with Hirschsprung disease (HD). The aim of this study was to identify incidence of pre- and postoperative HAEC in our consecutive cohort and to identify patient and clinical characteristics that are associated with developing postoperative HAEC and HAEC-free interval.

Material And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed with all 146 HD patients treated between 2000 and 2017.

Comparison of intra- and extra-corporeal laparoscopic hernia repair in children: A systematic review and pooled data-analysis.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery is increasingly used to repair paediatric inguinal hernias and can be divided into intra- or extra-corporeal closing techniques. No statement regarding the superiority of one of the two techniques can be made. This study aims to provide evidence supporting the superiority of intra- or extra-corporeal suturing technique.