Long-term complications and outcomes of augmentation cystoplasty in children with neurogenic bladder.

Augmentation cystoplasty (AC) is an effective surgical procedure for patients with neurogenic bladder whenever conservative treatments have failed. The present study aimed to determine the risks of metabolic complications, malignancy, long-term outcomes and histopathologic changes of native bladder and the augmented intestine after AC in children with neurogenic bladder. Pediatric patients < 18 years who underwent AC between 2000 and 2020 were enrolled.

Comparing Outcomes of Single-Incision Laparoscopic Herniorrhaphy in Newborns and Infants.

Background: As surgical techniques progress, laparoscopic herniorrhaphy is now performed more often in premature babies. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of newborns and infants who underwent single-incision laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (SILH) at our center.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients younger than 12 months old who received SILH at our department from 2016 to 2020.

Splenic Torsion in Heterotaxy Syndrome with Left Isomerism: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Splenic torsion is an unusual condition that results in congenital abnormality, especially in the visceral abnormal arrangement. We report the case of an 8.5-year-old boy with features in the right upper quadrant.

A Rare Case of Prostatic Utricle with Crossover Vas Deferens in Children.

A prostatic utricle (PU) is an unusual pathology with most patients being asymptomatic. However, approximately 29% of patients may show lower urinary tract symptoms, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), postvoid dribbling, urethral discharge, epididymo-orchitis, stones, and secondary incontinence caused by urine trapping in the pouch and urinary retention. The standard treatment is through surgical resection, but it is only offered to patients with symptoms.

Seasonal variations in the occurrence of acute appendicitis and their relationship with the presence of fecaliths in children.

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical condition in children. Although a higher incidence of AA in summer has been reported, the reason for this observation remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical findings of AA patients who underwent appendectomies during the summer months with those who underwent the procedure during the non-summer months.

A nationwide survey of incidence rates and risk factors of inguinal hernia in preterm children.

Purpose: Clinical observations showed a higher incidence rate of inguinal hernia (IH) in preterm infants. In this study, we calculated the incidence rate of preterm IH from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan.

Methods: From NHIRD, 92,308 subjects born in the year of 1997-2005 were randomly selected as the study cohort.

Second hernia repairs in children-a nationwide study.

Background: Second inguinal hernia repairs may be needed either owing to contralateral metachronous hernia (MH) or ipsilateral recurrent hernia (RH). In this study, we estimated the incidence rates of MH and RH from a large nationwide database.

Methods: The information was obtained from the National Health Insurance Database (with 23 million insurants).

Minimization or withdrawal of immunosuppressants in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

Background: We aimed to minimize the dose of tacrolimus in pediatric patients undergoing liver transplantation prospectively.

Methods: Pediatric liver transplant recipients with stable graft function >1year (transplant at <1year of age), or 2years (transplant at >1year of age) post transplant were screened. After baseline graft biopsy, patients were enrolled into our protocol for elective tacrolimus dose reduction.

Surgical outcomes of total colonic aganglionosis in children: a 26-year experience in a single institute.

Background: There is a lack of consensus regarding the treatment of total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) with respect to perioperative morbidity, mortality, complications, and functional outcomes. The aim of this study was to review the results of surgical TCA treatment over a 26-year period and characterize the outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics, surgical courses, and outcomes of TCA patients who underwent definitive pull-through operations from 1986 to 2012.

Modified prepuce unfurling for buried penis: a report of 12 years of experience.

Background/objective: About 10 years ago, we started to correct buried penis using the technique of modified prepuce unfurling. We have made modifications in the years since our preliminary results were reported in 2002.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-four patients received modified prepuce unfurling since 2000, with ages ranging from 2 months to 33 years.

A novel rat model simulating biliary atresia after a Kasai operation.

Purpose: The mechanisms of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia (BA) after a Kasai operation deserve studying to improve the clinical outcomes. This study aimed to create a rat model simulating BA after a Kasai operation.

Methods: We inserted a polyethylene tube (PE10) into the common hepatic duct (CHD) and ligated the common bile duct (CBD) in 30 newborn rats and injected 95% ethanol into IHD at postoperative week-one (POW-1).

A newly designed total implantable venous access device in rats for research with high efficiency and low cost.

Background: In this study, we introduced a newly designed totally implantable device for long-term vascular access in rats and compared its efficacy, related complications, and cost-effectiveness with conventional exteriorized jugular vein catheters.

Methods: Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, were equally divided into two groups (I and II) and all underwent jugular vein catheterization surgery. The totally implanted device was used in group I and conventional exteriorized catheters were used in group II.

A longitudinal cohort study of incidence rates of inguinal hernia repair in 0- to 6-year-old children.

Background/purpose: This study provides epidemiologic data on the incidence of inguinal hernia repair in preschool children using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We believe that the data on hernia repair in said database provide a close approximation of the true incidence of inguinal hernia in young children.

Method: A cohort of 1,073,891 deidentified individuals was randomly selected from an insured population of 23 million.

Amelioration of paraquat-induced pulmonary injury by mesenchymal stem cells.

Acute paraquat (PQ) poisoning induces redox cycle and leads to fatal injury of lung. Clinical management is supportive in nature due to lack of effective antidote, and the mortality is very high. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) process the properties of immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic effects and oxidative stress resistance.

Child abuse in medical setting presenting as gross hematuria: diagnosis by DNA short tandem repeats.

Two sisters, aged 15 and 13 years, had previous epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the kidney and suspected thin basement membrane disease, respectively. They presented with 2 years of gross hematuria and new-onset heavy proteinuria. Extensive investigations failed to find an overt cause of their urinary manifestations.

Three liver grafts from a deceased whole liver.

Although the lateral segment (LS) from the split-liver of a deceased donor or a live donor can increase the organ pool of pediatric patients awaiting liver transplantation, the shortage of organ donation in Asia countries is still serious and results in high death rates of pediatric patients. The medial segment (MS) of the liver is sacrificed during the standard technique of splitting a whole liver into an LS and an extended right liver because the cutting sites of portal vein, hepatic artery and bile duct are all in the bifurcation of the liver hilum to have adequate length of vascular and biliary pedicles for easier grafting. However, the surgical techniques of vascular and biliary reconstructions for liver transplantation, particularly from the experiences of living donor liver transplantation, have been much improved in the last decade.

Clinical characteristics, nocturnal antidiuretic hormone levels, and responsiveness to DDAVP of school children with primary nocturnal enuresis.

Purpose: Decreased nocturnal antidiuretic hormone (ADH) excretion has been suggested to be a causative factor for PNE in children. We investigate the demographic characteristics and nocturnal ADH levels of children with PNE who attended a tertiary referral center and to determine their response to treatment with desamino-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP).

Methods: We performed a retrospective study in 90 PNE children aged 6-12 years.

Augmentation cystoplasty and simultaneous ureteral reimplantation reduce high-grade vesicoureteral reflux in children with neurogenic bladder.

Background: To compare the incidence of residual high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (HVUR) (≥Grade III) in neurogenic bladder patients receiving augmentation cystoplasty alone or with simultaneous ureteral reimplantation. Furthermore, we also tried to find the risk factors of residual VUR and febrile urinary tract infection.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2009, urinary bladder augmentation was performed in 21 children with neurogenic bladder.

Living donor liver transplantation using a graft from a donor with Dubin-Johnson syndrome.

DJS is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes an increase in conjugated bilirubin without elevation of liver enzymes. Most patients are asymptomatic and have normal life spans, but to the best of our knowledge, their livers have never been reported to be grafts in liver transplantation. Herein, we report an infant patient with MMA that received a partial liver graft from his mother, who had DJS.

Successful redo pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease in a Haddad syndrome patient.

Haddad syndrome is characterized by congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine's curse) associated with segmental distal gut aganglionosis (Hirschsprung's disease). The prognosis of Haddad syndrome is very poor, and survival is often less than 2 years. Treatment of Hirschsprung's disease is usually influenced by the association with Ondine's curse.

Outcome and risk factors for mortality in pediatric peritoneal dialysis.

Background: The mortality rate among children requiring renal replacement therapy is higher than in children without end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Some factors, such as hypoalbuminemia, high peritoneal transport rate, age, malnutrition, cardiovascular disease, and recurrent peritonitis, appear to be associated with lower survival in adult peritoneal dialysis patients. Data regarding risk factors of mortality in children with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) are limited.

Modifications of preputial unfurling to reduce postoperative edema in buried penis.

Objective: Buried penis is a result of penile skin deficiency and inadequate attachment of the skin to the Buck's fascia. Prolonged postoperative edema (>1 month) has been seen in some patients after preputial unfurling. Some modifications which may reduce this complication are described.

Analysis of the RET gene in subjects with sporadic Hirschsprung's disease.

Background: Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR), or aganglionic megacolon, is a hereditable disease of the enteric nervous system. It is an embryonic developmental disorder characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the lower enteric plexus. Gut motility is compromised in HSCR, with consequent risk of intestinal obstruction.

Prepubertal testicular germ cell tumors: 25-year experience in Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Background: Due to the rarity of testicular tumors in the prepubertal population, adequate information about their biological course is difficult to document well in a single institution. The purpose of this study was to focus on prepubertal males in an attempt to evaluate clinical features and optimal management among various testicular germ cell tumors with long-term follow-up.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children younger than 12 years of age with primary testicular germ cell tumors between February 1981 and December 2005 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital.