Use of Peristeen® transanal colonic irrigation for bowel management in children: a single-center experience.

Aims: Transanal colonic irrigation has been shown to be effective in bowel management program in adults. However, there exist limited data in children. We appraised the effectiveness of this technique in a series of children with incontinence or constipation and overflow soiling.

Recognising serious umbilical cord anomalies.

Umbilical vessel catheterisation is a common intervention in neonatal care. Many complications are recognised, some of which are life-threatening. We report the case of a term neonate who was compromised at birth following antepartum haemorrhage with evidence of multiorgan ischaemic injury.

Haematuria and the retro-aortic left renal vein.

The authors present the case of a 10-year-old boy with a 2-year history of intermittent macroscopic haematuria. After exclusion of other causes of haematuria through history, examination and a number of investigations, MRI revealed the finding of a retro-aortic left renal vein, which appeared to be compressed between the aorta and the L3 vertebral body. The retro-aortic left renal vein or 'posterior nutcracker syndrome" is a rare but important cause of haematuria and other manifestations of left renal vein hypertension.

Oesophageal perforation in extreme prematurity.

Management of oesophageal perforation in extremely premature babies is a challenge and carries a high morbidity. The authors report their experience of three separate cases of oesophageal perforation they encountered over the last 18 months in extremely premature neonates. In the first case, the diagnosis of oesophageal perforation was known in an otherwise stable baby who was treated conservatively with a good outcome.

Neonatal urinary ascites secondary to urinary bladder rupture.

We describe the clinical presentation, radiology and clinical management of four neonates with spontaneous urinary bladder rupture and secondary urinary ascites seen in 1984 and two recent cases seen in 2007. All neonates had normal genitourinary systems on antenatal serial ultrasound scans. The management of these cases ranged from conservative management (n=3) to surgical repair of bladder (n=1).

Prevention and management of BK-virus associated haemorrhagic cystitis in children following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation--a systematic review and evidence-based guidance for clinical management.

Haemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common and, in its severe form, potentially life-threatening complication of Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children. Recent data indicate an important role of BK virus reactivation during the time of maximal post-transplant immune suppression in the pathogenesis of late-onset HC. Treatment of HC is mainly symptomatic and often frustrating.