The Association between the First Cry and Clinical Outcomes in CDH Neonates: A Retrospective Study.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by the herniation of abdominal organs into the thorax, resulting in hypoplastic lungs and pulmonary hypertension. The impact of the first cry, a crucial event for lung transition during birth, on CDH patients remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of the first cry during birth on CDH patient survival, along with other prognosis factors.

Quality of life after type-A esophageal atresia surgery: changes over time and effect of pre-anastomotic elongation.

Aim: To assess mid-/long-term postoperative quality of life (QOL) of esophageal atresia (EA) patients.

Methods: Modified gastrointestinal quality-of-life index surveys were administered to postoperative EA patients who were at least 7 years old at evaluation to assess three topics about general lifestyle (GL), five topics about EA, and four topics about mental health (MH). For MH, caregivers were also interviewed, but separately.

Changes in postoperative quality of life of pediatric total colonic aganglionosis patients: effect of pull-through technique.

Aim: To assess mid-/long-term quality of life (QOL) of total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) patients.

Methods: Modified pre-existing QOL assessment tools for general lifestyle (GL), bowel function (BF), and mental health (MH) were administered to postoperative TCA patients from five institutions, who were at least 7 years old to compare Duhamel (with pouch) and Swenson/Soave (without pouch) techniques between children (Ch 7-12 years old), teenagers (Tn 13-19), and adults (Ad 20 and over). For MH, caregivers were also interviewed, but separately.

Pancreaticobiliary maljunction without biliary dilatation in pediatric patients.

Purpose: Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) without biliary dilatation is a condition in which dilatation of the bile duct is not seen in patients with PBM. Recently, the Japanese Study Group on Pancreaticobiliary Maljunction (JSGPM) published new diagnostic criteria for PBM. In these criteria, biliary dilatation is defined according to the standard diameter at each age.

Optimal timing of delivery for pregnancies with prenatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a propensity-score analysis using the inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Objective: To evaluate the optimal timing of neonates with prenatally diagnosed congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: Data from a retrospective cohort study conducted by the Japanese CDH Study Group between 2011 and 2018 were divided into two groups according to delivery timing: 36-37 and 38-41 weeks of gestation (wg). Death before 90 days as the primary outcome and the duration of hospitalization, oxygen therapy and tube feeding at discharge as the secondary outcomes were analyzed with generalized linear model applying inverse probability of treatment weighting method.

Subtle Crucial X-Ray Findings in Pediatric Foreign Body Aspiration.

Foreign body aspiration (FBA), with potentially life-threatening outcomes, is not unusual in the pediatric population. We report two cases of lobar bronchial radiolucent foreign bodies. Chest X-ray (CXR) showed a slight but significant finding of lobar emphysema without a significant mediastinal shift.

Angiographic diagnosis for accurate assessment of congenital porto-systemic shunt and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction in children.

Background: Congenital porto-systemic shunt (CPSS) is a rare disease and can cause fatal complications. Accurate angiographic assessment is mandatory for proper treatment. Although technically difficult, we developed assessment techniques and assessed their accuracy.

Thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in neonates: findings of a multicenter study in Japan.

Purpose: We compared the efficacy of thoracoscopic repair (TR) with that of open repair (OR) for neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: The subjects of this multicenter retrospective cohort study were 524 infants with left-sided isolated CDH, diagnosed prenatally, and treated at one of 15 participating hospitals in Japan between 2006 and 2018. The outcomes of infants who underwent TR and those who underwent OR were compared, applying propensity score matching.

Clinical guidelines for the treatment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect of the diaphragm in which abdominal organs herniate through the defect into the thoracic cavity. The main pathophysiology is respiratory distress and persistent pulmonary hypertension because of pulmonary hypoplasia caused by compression of the elevated organs. Recent progress in prenatal diagnosis and postnatal care has led to an increase in the survival rate of patients with CDH.

Obstructive Fecalomas in an Infant Treated with Successful Endoscopic Disimpaction.

A fecaloma is a mass of accumulated feces with a consistency much harder than that of a fecal impaction. It is most frequently observed in the rectum and sigmoid area, and associated complications include colonic obstruction, ulceration, bleeding, and perforation. A one-year-old, previously healthy boy with no history of chronic constipation was admitted because of vomiting and abdominal distension.

Characteristics and treatment of congenital esophageal stenosis: A retrospective collaborative study from three Japanese children's hospitals.

Background/purpose: There is no consensus on treatment strategy of congenital esophageal stenosis (CES). This study aimed to assess appropriateness of the treatment we have provided to patients with CES over the past four decades.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective chart review of 83 CES patients treated at three children's hospitals between 1973 and 2015.

Risk factors of dumping syndrome after fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux in children.

Purpose: In postoperative cases of fundoplication, the gastric emptying ability is promoted and sometimes exhibits dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome often goes unrecognized in children. Furthermore, the risk factors for postoperative dumping syndrome are unknown.

A 5-year-old boy with acute neurological disorder from anteflexion-induced cervical cord compression after tracheal surgery: Radiological findings similar to Hirayama disease.

Constant neck flexion has been considered crucial to reducing anastomotic tension after tracheal resection. However, in rare cases, anteflexion can cause cervical cord damage, leading to acute neurological disorders such as tetraplegia. Here, we report a case of 5-year-old boy presenting with acute neurological disorder triggered by a chin-to-chest position over 4 days of deep sedation after cricotracheal resection.

Prognosis of conventional vs. high-frequency ventilation for congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine the appropriate initial ventilatory mode for neonatal congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) by comparing patient prognosis following conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) versus high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFO).

Study Design: This multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed at 15 participating hospitals in Japan between 2011 and 2016. The 328 eligible CDH infants were classified into CMV (n = 78) and HFO groups (n = 250) to compare mortality and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Optimal timing of surgery in infants with prenatally diagnosed isolated left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a multicenter, cohort study in Japan.

Purpose: To date, there is no compelling evidence of the optimal timing of surgery for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). This study aimed to establish the optimal timing of surgery in neonates with isolated left-sided CDH.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study enrolled 276 patients with isolated left-sided CDH at 15 institutions.

Can Intraoperative Video Recordings Contribute to Improving Laparoscopic Percutaneous Extraperitoneal Closure in Children with Inguinal Hernia and Prevent Recurrence? A Pilot Study.

We reviewed intraoperative video recordings (IVRs) of laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) for inguinal hernia in children blindly to assess performance. IVRs of 183 LPEC performed between April 2013 and March 2016, graded by the operating surgeon as difficult (D;  = 8), straightforward (S;  = 96), or easy (E;  = 79), were scored by a panel of reviewers with advanced (group A; >400 LPEC cases;  = 5), intermediate (group I; 50-150 cases;  = 5), and basic (group B; <10 cases;  = 5) experience, according to suturing, dissection plane, vas/vessel dissection, bleeding, and peritoneal injury. They also allocated a recurrence risk rank (RRR; highest = 6; lowest = 1) for each IVR.