Esophago-gastric junction findings on high resolution impedance manometry in children with esophageal atresia.

Objectives: Using high resolution impedance manometry (HRIM), this study characterized the esophago-gastric junction (EGJ) dynamics in children with esophageal atresia (EA).

Method: Esophageal HRIM was performed in patients with EA aged less than 18 years. Objective motility patterns were analyzed, and EGJ data reported.

Preexisting neural factors that contribute to dysmotility in esophageal atresia: a systematic review.

Esophageal dysmotility in esophageal atresia (EA) relates to abnormal development of esophageal innervation and musculature and to the esophageal repair. Few studies have investigated the preexisting dysmotility in EA, present prior to surgery. This systematic review aims to summarize the literature on neuronal studies in EA, to understand the causative factors for esophageal dysmotility.

Quality of Life Outcomes in Primary Caregivers of Children with Esophageal Atresia.

Objective: To investigate the quality of life (QoL) impact on primary caregivers of children with esophageal atresia.

Study Design: We used a prospective cohort study design, inviting primary caregivers of children with esophageal atresia to complete the following questionnaires: Parent Experience of Child Illness (PECI), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety, PROMIS Depression, 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). The PECI, PROMIS Anxiety and Depression, and SF-12 assessed caregiver QoL, and the PedsQL assessed patient QoL.

Survival Trends and Syndromic Esophageal Atresia.

Background And Objectives: Presence of a syndrome (or association) is predictive of poor survival in esophageal atresia (EA). However, most reports rely on historical patient outcomes, limiting their usefulness when estimating risk for neonates born today. We hypothesized improved syndromic EA survival due to advances in neonatal care.

Radiation burden in patients with esophageal atresia: a systematic review.

Esophageal atresia (EA) is the most common congenital esophageal disorder. Radiological imaging facilitates diagnosis, surgical interventions, and follow-up. Despite this, standardized monitoring guidelines are lacking.

Esophageal morbidity in patients following repair of esophageal atresia: A systematic review.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is a life-threatening congenital condition, affecting one in 2600 newborns. Morbidity remains high, with many patients experiencing complications, including anastomotic leak/stricture, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Increased understanding of esophageal motility patterns may help explain the etiology of these complications.

H-type congenital tracheoesophageal fistula: Insights from 70 years of The Royal Children's Hospital experience.

Background: The long-term outcomes of H-type tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF), an uncommon variant of esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (OA/TOF), are rarely described in the literature. We reviewed our institutional experience of 70 years.

Methods: The Nate Myers Oesophageal Atresia Database was queried for patients with an H-type TOF (1948-2017).

Are Postoperative Intravenous Antibiotics Indicated After Laparoscopic Appendicectomy for Simple Appendicitis? A Prospective Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There is limited evidence for the use of postoperative antibiotics for simple appendicitis (SA) in children. Our aim was to conduct a prospective double-blinded randomized controlled trial to investigate this after a laparoscopic appendicectomy.

Methods: Following ethical approval, children (≤16 years) undergoing appendicectomy were recruited at a single institution.

The burden of esophageal dilatations following repair of esophageal atresia.

Aim: To describe the burden of esophageal dilatations in patients following esophageal atresia (EA) repair.

Method: A retrospective review was performed at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, of all neonates undergoing operative repair for EA over a 17-year period (1999-2015). Stricture was defined by radiological and/or intra-operative findings of narrowing at the esophageal anastomosis.

Surgical management of perianal abscess in neonates and infants.

Background: The optimal management of perianal abscess in neonates and infants remains unclear, including the need for laying open of the fistula and the role of microscopy and culture studies (MCS). We aimed to report the recurrence rate following incision and drainage alone (I&D) compared to incision and drainage with laying open of the fistula (I&DF) and to determine the value of MCS in perianal abscess management.

Methods: Following ethical approval (16326Q), a 10-year (2007-2017) review of children younger than 1 year presenting with a perianal abscess was performed.

Medical and surgical management of pediatric perianal crohn's disease: A systematic review.

Background: The timely management of pediatric Crohn's disease (CD), and specifically perianal CD, is important owing to the possible adverse effects on growth, development, and quality of life. Perianal involvement is increasingly common, with up to 62% of pediatric CD patients affected. Presently, literature addressing the management of perianal CD has focused primarily on adults, with findings that cannot always be extrapolated to the pediatric population.

Quality of life assessment in esophageal atresia patients: a systematic review focusing on long-gap esophageal atresia.

Background: Children born with esophageal atresia (EA) have inherent abnormalities in esophageal motility which may impact upon patient and family Quality of Life (QoL). Currently, paucity of data exists for long-term outcomes of long-gap EA. We aimed to: (1) summarize QoL tools reported in the literature, focusing upon studies involving long-gap EA patients, and (2) compare QoL for long-gap versus non-long-gap EA patients.

Does peritoneal lavage influence the rate of complications following pediatric Laparoscopic Appendicectomy in Children with Complicated Appendicitis? A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: There is ongoing debate concerning the use of peritoneal irrigation in the setting of complicated appendicitis (CA) in children. Our aim was to conduct a prospective randomized controlled trial for the treatment of CA during a laparoscopic appendicectomy in children.

Methods: Following ethical approval (REC10138B), pediatric patients (≤16 years old) were recruited from a single institution over a 3-year time period (2015-2018).

Clinical state of the paediatric acute scrotum in south-eastern Victoria.

Background: Acute scrotal pain is a common paediatric surgical presentation. Delays in treatment can result in testicular loss from torsion. It is unclear where delays occur.

Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography: Clinical Impact for Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Background: In recent years, four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) has emerged as a new localization study for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT).

Objective: We aimed to assess the added value of 4DCT in our institution in the first 4 years of use.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from February 2004 to June 2015.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Urinary Bladder: A Case Report.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a rare but benign clinical entity. Its ability to mimic malignancy poses a diagnostic challenge. Here, we report the first case in Australia, of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the bladder in a 40-year-old male, removed via transurethral resection.

Incidental Finding of a Rare Urachal Pathology: Urachal Mucinous Cystic Tumour of Low Malignant Potential.

Urachal mucinous cystic tumours are rare pathological findings with only 23 previously reported cases in the literature. We present the case of a 54-year-old man with an incidentally found urachal mucinous cystic tumour laparoscopically excised. With its known potential to cause pseudomyxoma peritonei, complete surgical excision is important.

Synovial fluid findings in children with knee monoarthritis in lyme disease endemic areas.

Background: Although Lyme and septic arthritis of the knee may have similar clinical presentations, septic arthritis requires prompt identification and treatment to avoid joint destruction. We sought to determine whether synovial fluid cell counts alone can discriminate between Lyme, septic, and other inflammatory arthritis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children aged 1 to 18 years with knee monoarthritis who presented to 1 of 2 pediatric emergency departments located in Lyme endemic areas.

Cost-effectiveness of thrombolysis within 4.5 hours of acute ischemic stroke: experience from Australian stroke center.

Background And Purpose: Previous economic studies outside Australia have demonstrated that patients treated with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) within 4.5 hours of stroke onset have lower healthcare costs than those not. We aim to perform cost-effectiveness analysis of intravenous tPA in an Australian setting.

Ross procedure in children: 17-year experience at a single institution.

Background: The Ross procedure in children carries substantial mortality and reoperation rate. Aortic root dilatation is of concern. To prevent dilatation of the neoaortic root, but permit normal growth, we began to apply an absorbable poly-(p-dioxanone)-filaments (PDS) band at the sino-tubular (ST)-junction.

Distinguishing Lyme from septic knee monoarthritis in Lyme disease-endemic areas.

Objective: Because Lyme and septic arthritis may present similarly, we sought to identify children with knee monoarthritis at low risk for septic arthritis who may not require arthrocentesis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of children with knee monoarthritis presenting to 1 of 2 pediatric centers, both located in Lyme disease-endemic areas. Septic arthritis was defined by a positive result on synovial fluid culture or synovial fluid pleocytosis with a positive blood culture result.