The impact of an operative note proforma at a paediatric surgical centre.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: With expectations for standardization and evidence-based practice, the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) published the 'Good Surgical Practice' in 2008. The document sets standards for operative records anticipating improved documentation, audits, medico-legal review and quality and safety of handover. We evaluated (1) documentation against RCS standards; (2) whether RCS standards are applicable to and adequate for paediatric surgery; and (3) the impact of a standardized operative proforma.

Congenital abdominal wall defects and testicular maldescent--a 10-year single-center experience.

Purpose: The relationship between congenital abdominal wall defects (AWDs) and undescended testes (UDTs) is poorly defined. We report a study of infants with AWD and UDT.

Methods: Hospital records of newborns with AWD managed during 1998 to 2008 were reviewed.

An alternative management option for colonic atresia preventing loss of the ileocecal valve.

Purpose: Management of colonic atresia is contentious, with primary anastomosis having a notable risk of anastomotic leak. In addition, resection of the terminal ileum and ileocecal (i-c) valve is frequently performed, risking side effects such as diarrhea, vitamin B(12) deficiency, and gall stone formation.

Methods: The hospital coding system was searched for all patients with a diagnosis of colonic atresia between July 2005 and July 2008.

Vacuum drainage in the management of complicated abdominal wound dehiscence in children.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to report the outcomes of the vacuum dressing method (vacuum-assisted closure [VAC]) in the management of "complicated" abdominal wounds in a selected group of children including neonates.

Methods: All children with vacuum (VAC) dressing-assisted closure of a complex abdominal wound (defined as complete/partial wound dehiscence combined with at least one of stoma, anastomosis, tube enterostomy, or infected patch abdominoplasty) were included in a 2-year study that took place in a single tertiary referral hospital. Retrospective case note analysis was used to determine premorbid diagnosis, management, illness severity markers, morbidity, and outcome.

After the honeymoon comes divorce: long-term use of the antegrade continence enema procedure.

Background: Having reported that 18% of children discontinue use of the antegrade continence enema (ACE) after 5 years, we aimed to determine long-term use after an ACE procedure.

Methods: A postal/telephone questionnaire was conducted. Subjects were consecutive children undergoing an ACE between 1993 and 1999.

Functional outcome in correction of perineal fistula in boys with anoplasty versus posterior sagittal anorectoplasty.

Optimal surgical therapy for low anorectal anomalies remains controversial. We compared functional outcome after correction of perineal fistula in boys with either anoplasty (AP) or limited posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP). Thirty-nine boys from two centres treated for perineal fistula with either AP (n = 24) or PSARP (n = 15) from 1996 to 2001 underwent prospective follow-up for functional outcome.

Perineal groove.

We present a case of this uncommon congenital anomaly of the perineum. A 6-month-old baby had a perineal groove excised for cosmetic reasons. The histology showed a strip of squamous epithelium with an intervening area lined by rectal type of mucosa, suggesting an embryological remnant such as urorectal septum.