Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) as a treatment for pediatric achalasia: multicenter study and first results.

Introduction: Laparoscopic Heller miotomy of achalasia has been classically recognized as the gold standard management in children. There is increasing experience with the peroral endoscopic miotomy (POEM) approach in pediatrics, although the series published are scarce. The objective of this study was to present our experience in primary or secondary treatment of pediatric achalasia by POEM and its clinical success rate.

Epiploic Appendagitis and Omental Infarction as Rare Causes of Acute Abdominal Pain in Children.

Omental infarction and epiploic appendagitis are rare causes of acute abdominal pain in the pediatric population. Radiological evaluation is necessary to establish a specific diagnosis and to differentiate appendicitis from these conditions as they can be often managed conservatively without surgical intervention.

Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis Due to a Primary Epstein Barr Virus Infection in a Pediatric Patient.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is estimated to infect more than 98% of adults worldwide and is one of the most common human viruses. Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) of the gallbladder is an atypical complication of infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV. Conservative management has been described in the context of AAC caused by EBV.

Juxta-articular Myxoma of the Hip: A Rare Pediatric Tumor.

Juxta-articular myxoma (JAM) is a very rare myxoid tumor in pediatric age. JAM is frequently located at large joints, particularly in the knee, and most lesions present as palpable swelling sometimes associated with pain or tenderness. Only three cases of pediatric JAM have been reported in the literature to date.

Role of intraluminal bowel echogenicity on prenatal ultrasounds to determine the anatomical level of intestinal atresia.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between different degrees of bowel intraluminal echogenicity showed by prenatal ultrasounds and the anatomic level of intestinal atresia.

Methods: We report three cases of intestinal atresia at different intestinal levels verified during the neonatal surgery with specific ultrasonographic prenatal features. Intensity of sonolucency was analyzed using the image-processing program ImageJ for quantitative measurements based on the gray-scale intensity values.

[Fistulas of the lower urinary tract in children].

A lower urinary tract fistula consist in an abnormal connection between bladder, urethra and adjacent abdominal organs or skin. There are several types of urinary fistulas in paediatric age and they may be congenital or acquired. Etiology may be due to embriological defects, infectious processes, malignant tumours, pelvic irradiation as well as complications following surgical procedures, especially postsurgical repair of hypospadia or epispadia.

Robotic-assisted surgery for excision of an enlarged prostatic utricle.

Introduction: Prostatic utricle is a rare malformation arising from incomplete regression of the Müllerian ducts. Diagnosis is easily made but management may be challenging. The minimally invasive approach has so far been considered the gold standard for surgical treatment.

Congenital pulmonary malformations: metabolomic profile of lung phenotype in infants.

Background: The main hydrosoluble metabolites in three different human congenital pulmonary malformations are described by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Methods: Bronchogenic cyst (BC), congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) and intrapulmonary sequestration (IPS), were analyzed with respect to a control sample. The extracted metabolites were submitted to high-resolution (1)H NMR-spectroscopy.

Robotic-assisted surgery approach in a biliary rhabdomyosarcoma misdiagnosed as choledochal cyst.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue malignant tumor affecting 1% of children from 0 to 14 years. Preoperative imaging may not always be diagnostic for hepatobiliary rhabdomyosarcoma and differential diagnosis with choledochal cyst (CC) could be difficult. We report a case of 2-years-old girl with a strange CC pattern of presentation.

Pediatric robotic pyeloplasty in patients weighing less than 10 kg initial experience.

Aim: To report the feasibility and safety of a robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) in patients weighing <10 kg.

Materials And Methods: Three patients weighing between 5 and 8 kg who were affected by severe congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction, including a child with solitary kidney, were subjected to RALP. Three trocars were placed; sutures and pyeloplasty remodeling were performed with interrupted stitches.

Intrascrotal lipoblastoma in a ten year old: case report and review of literature.

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign soft tissue tumor encountered almost exclusively in infancy and early childhood. The location of tumors varies, but most occur in the extremities, trunk, head and neck. Less frequently, lipoblastomas have been reported in the mediastinum, the retroperitoneum and the inguinal region.

Portal Hypertension in Childhood Bilateral Wilms' Tumor Survivor: An Excellent Indication for TIPS.

Introduction. Increased pressure in portal venous system is relatively a rare complication after chemoradiotherapy for Wilms' tumor (WT). In paediatric population, feasibility and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in portal hypertension nonresponsive to medical or endoscopic treatment have been recently advocated.

Isolated colon ischemia with norovirus infection in preterm babies: a case series.

Introduction: Norovirus infection with necrotizing enterocolitis has so far been reported as a specific tropism of the small bowel in premature newborns.

Case Presentation: Three cases of premature newborns presenting with extensive isolated colonic ischemia due to norovirus infection are reported.Patient 1 was a Caucasian girl with a gestational age of 29+2 weeks.

Robotic assisted surgery in pediatric gynecology: promising innovation in mini invasive surgical procedures.

Study Objective: Robotic assisted surgery is not yet widely applied in the pediatric field. We report our initial experience regarding the feasibility, safety, benefits, and limitations of robot-assisted surgery in pediatric gynecological patients.

Design: Descriptive, retrospective report of experience with pediatric gynecological patients over a period of 12 months.