Total Obliteration and Subsequent Recanalization of Esophagus via Endoscopic Rendezvous Procedure in a Pediatric Patient.

Esophageal strictures are well-known to the pediatric gastroenterology and surgery communities. Such strictures can arise from congenital malformations, inflammatory disorders, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), or even caustic substance ingestion. Rarely, in the instances of caustic ingestion, GERD, or inflammatory disorders, total obliteration of the esophageal lumen has been described.

Quality improvement and patient care checklists in intrahospital transfers involving pediatric surgery patients.

Background: Intrahospital transfers are necessary but hazardous aspects of pediatric surgical care. Plan-Do-Study-Act processes identify risks during hospitalization and improve care systems and patient safety.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed a checklist that documented patient data and handoffs for all intrahospital transfers involving pediatric surgical inpatients.

Outcome of splenectomy in children younger than 4 years with sickle cell disease.

Purpose: Removal of the spleen in patients younger than 4 years has been reported to carry an increased risk of postsplenectomy sepsis and has not been universally accepted. We reviewed our experience with splenectomy in children with acute splenic sequestration crisis (ASSC) younger than 4 years.

Methods: The study involved retrospective review of demographic and operative data, number of ASSC, operative complications, infections, and death.

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Background: Patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity may develop postoperative abdominal pain disorders that require surgical evaluation. Chronic pancreatitis and pain associated with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is an uncommon disorder whose clinical diagnosis is problematic without sphincter of Oddi manometry. To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of SOD in the gastric bypass population, a retrospective review and analysis of gastric bypass patients who had undergone transduodenal sphincteroplasty (TS) for SOD was undertaken.