Late administration of antenatal vitamin A promotes pulmonary structural maturation and improves ventilation in the lamb model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Purpose: The lungs in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are hypoplastic and immature making respiratory support one of the most challenging aspects of caring for these neonates. Vitamin A is essential for normal lung growth and development. It also promotes alveolarization.

Antenatal vitamin A decreases ventilation-induced lung injury in the lamb model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objective: Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are susceptible to ventilation-induced lung injury. Vitamin A may protect the lung from injury during ventilation. The authors investigated the effects of antenatal vitamin A on ventilation-induced lung injury in CDH lambs using lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as an indicator of lung injury.

Diagnosing Hirschsprung's disease: increasing the odds of a positive rectal biopsy result.

Background/purpose: Rectal biopsies are performed as a definitive means of diagnosing Hirschsprung's Disease (HD) in children presenting with constipation. The authors hypothesized that key features in the history, physical examination, and radiographic evaluation would allow us to avoid unnecessary rectal biopsies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing rectal biopsy between 1995 and 2001.