The Irish Experience with Sacrococcygeal Teratomas: Are Type IV Lesions More Common than We Think?

Introduction:  Sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) are rare tumors occurring in approximately 1 in 35,000 to 40,000 live births. The Altman classification is used to describe SCTs. There are four types, with type 1 predominantly external through to type IV which is a presacral, completely internal mass.

A rare case of paediatric neck swelling: cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma.

Schwannomas are indolent benign lesions arising from schwann cells in the nerve. They are especially rare in the paediatric population. We report an interesting case of a swelling in the upper neck, which highlights an atypical presentation of this tumour, as well as the complex details of its clinical, radiological, and surgical management.

Experience with retroperitoneoscopy in pediatric surgical oncology.

Background: Retroperitoneoscopy (RS) has been successfully introduced in adult oncology for diagnostic procedures, staging, and surgical treatment. Its value for children has rarely been reported. This report describes the authors' experience using RS in the diagnosis and staging of cancer for children and adolescents.

Age-related changes in the myenteric plexus of the porcine bowel.

Introduction: Myenteric plexus (MP) is well recognized as an important regulator of peristaltic activity. Knowledge regarding prenatal and postnatal normal morphological changes is important when interpreting histopathologic findings in motility disorders of childhood. The aim of this study was to determine the neuronal density and morphology of the myenteric plexus (MP) of the porcine bowel from fetal life to adulthood.

Postnatal changes in enteric plexus axonal thickness.

Purpose: Chronological age has not always been an accurate predictor of gut motility in newborns. We hypothesized that the enteric plexus is immature at birth. We studied whole-mount preparations of the myenteric plexus in pigs from mid-point of gestation to adulthood.

Age-related changes in the neuromuscular development of the internal anal sphincter.

Purpose: The internal anal sphincter (IAS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of constipation and incontinence. We hypothesized that functional bowel obstruction in premature infants is because of a poorly developed IAS. We investigated the neuromuscular development of IAS in fetal, newborn, and adolescent pigs.

Experience with aortic grafting during excision of large abdominal neuroblastomas in children.

Background: Total or near total resection of high-risk, stage 4 abdominal neuroblastoma has been correlated with improved local control and overall survival but may be complicated by vascular injury. We describe our experience in the management of significant aortic injuries during this procedure.

Methods: With the institutional review board waiver, medical records of children who had major abdominal aortic reconstruction during neuroblastoma resection from 1996 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed.

Long-term results of delayed primary anastomosis for pure oesophageal atresia: a 27-year follow up.

The management of a newborn with pure oesophageal atresia continues to be challenging. We started treating babies with pure oesophageal atresia by delayed primary anastomosis in 1977. The purpose of this study was to review the long-term outcome in infants with pure oesophageal atresia (EA) treated by delayed primary anastomosis with special emphasis on gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) related morbidity.

Developmental changes of the adrenergic network in the myenteric plexus of the porcine small bowel.

Knowledge about the foetal development of the normal enteric nervous system (ENS) is crucial for the understanding of congenital and acquired functional abnormalities of the gut. The ENS is the largest and most complex division of the peripheral nervous system and consists of intrinsic and extrinsic components. Although previous studies have described sympathetic innervation of the myenteric plexus, little is known regarding its age-related changes.

Orchidopexy and its impact on fertility.

We critically analysed the factors known to influence the fertility potential after orchidopexy in children. A comprehensive literature review of all publications in the English language listed in Medline using the words cryptorchidism, undescended testis, orchidopexy, fertility, semen analysis and surgery from 1970 to 2005. In unilateral ectopic, canalicular and emergent testes, as long as the surgery is carried out in early childhood, fertility outcome is good (>90%).

Atresia of the ileocecal junction with agenesis of the ileocecal valve and vermiform appendix: report of a case.

Intestinal atresia involving the ileocecal region is a very rare intestinal malformation, and the presence or absence of the ileocecal valve influences its surgical management. We report the case of a male newborn with a provisional diagnosis of distal ileal atresia, in whom laparotomy revealed that the entire ileocecal region was atretic with an absent ileocecal valve and appendix vermiformis. We resected the dilated terminal ileum together with the atretic segment and performed an ileocolic anastomosis between the terminal ileum and the transverse microcolon without valve reconstruction.

Postnatal development of the mucosal plexus in the porcine small and large intestine.

Knowledge regarding the foetal and postnatal development of the enteric nervous system is crucial for the understanding of congenital disorders. While lot of information exists regarding the myenteric and submucosal plexuses, the development of the mucosal plexus has not been previously studied. The mucosal innervation seems to play an important role in the local reflex activity of the gut.

Enteric nervous system and developmental abnormalities in childhood.

ENS consists of a complex network of neurons, organised in several plexuses, which interact by means of numerous neurotransmitters. It is capable of modulating the intestinal motility, exocrine and endocrine secretions, microcirculation and immune and inflammatory responses within the gastrointestinal tract, independent of the central nervous system. Though the embryological development of various plexuses are completed by mid-way of gestation, the maturation of neurons and nerve plexuses appear to continue well after birth.

Developmental changes in submucosal nitrergic neurons in the porcine distal colon.

Background/purpose: As our understanding of the enteric nervous system improves, it becomes clear that it is no longer sufficient to simply determine whether enteric ganglion cells are present but also to determine whether correct number and types of ganglion cells are present. Nitric oxide is recognized as a potent mediator of inhibitory nerves responsible for the relaxation of the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to determine the normal nitrergic neuronal density and morphology in the submucosal plexus of the porcine distal bowel from fetal life to adulthood.