A Minimally Interventional Approach to Oesophageal Atresia Repair With Early Enteral Feeding is Safe, Optimises Neonatal Outcomes, and Reduces Resource use.

Purpose: Recent series of newborn Oesophageal Atresia (OA) repair continue to report widespread use of chest drains, gastrostomy, routine contrast studies and parenteral nutrition (PN) despite evidence suggesting these are superfluous. We report outcomes using a minimally interventional approach to post-operative recovery.

Methods: Ethically approved (15/WA/0153), single-centre, retrospective case-note review of consecutive infants with OA 2000-2022.

Implementing an early feeding pathway post gastrostomy insertion reduces inpatient stay.

Background: There is no consensus regarding optimal postoperative feeding strategy following gastrostomy insertion in children. The aim of this study was to determine whether implementing an early postoperative feeding pathway reduces length of stay (LOS) without increasing complications.

Methods: A retrospective case note review of all children having a new gastrostomy inserted during a one-year period prior to (July 2016-July 2017) and following (July 2017-July 2018) pathway introduction was performed.

Outcomes following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants compared with older children.

Purpose: Indications for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants and children remain controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare clinical features and outcome of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in infants with older children.

Methods: Retrospective single centre review of all patients <16 years of age (n = 380) undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair over a 5-year period (Jan 2005-Dec 2009).

Surgery for hydrocele in children-an avoidable excess?

Background: There is little consensus over the optimal timing of ligation of a patent processus vaginalis (PPV) in boys with hydrocele. We hypothesized that a proportion of procedures may be unnecessary because they are performed at an age before which the PPV may be expected to close spontaneously. Such excess may expose the child to unnecessary surgery and have significant cost implications.

The predictive value of preoperative fluorine-18-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography-computed tomography scans in children with congenital hyperinsulinism of infancy.

Background/purpose: In congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) of infancy, the use of preoperative fluorine-18-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)F-DOPA-PET-CT) scan has recently been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of this technique in discriminating between diffuse and focal CHI and the anatomical localization of focal lesions.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2010, (18)F-DOPA-PET scan was performed in 19 children with CHI (median age, 2 months; range, 1-12 months) who were not responding to medical therapy and underwent laparoscopic or open surgery.

Surgical outcomes of esophageal atresia without fistula for 24 years at a single institution.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of esophageal atresia (EA) without fistula for 24 years at a single tertiary center for pediatric surgery.

Methods: The study used a retrospective chart review of infants diagnosed with EA without fistula between 1981 and 2005.

Results: Of 33 patients with EA without fistula, 31 charts were available.

Outcomes of the "clip and drop" technique for multifocal necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: The "clip and drop" (CD) has been proposed as a useful strategy in the management of severe multifocal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). There is little published data on clinical outcomes after this intervention. We report a 2-center experience with this technique.

Bacterial counts from hospital doctors' ties are higher than those from shirts.

Doctor ties are often contaminated with bacteria, and it has been suggested that they should not be worn. We have compared bacterial counts from the ties and shirt pockets of 50 doctors. Counts were higher (P = .

The surgical approach to esophageal atresia repair and the management of long-gap atresia: results of a survey.

The optimal approach for esophageal atresia (OA) repair and technique used for long-gap OA repair are controversial. There are few data comparing the outcomes of the different approaches and techniques. We performed a survey of current practice of 88 pediatric surgeons and asked experts to provide us with definitions and rationales behind their management strategies.