Survey of legislative frameworks and national recommendations governing paediatric maintenance haemodialysis in Europe.

Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries.

Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires.

Management of Ganglioneuroma and Ganglioneuroblastoma Intermixed: A United Kingdom Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (UK CCLG) Nationwide Study Report.

Background: Ganglioneuroblastoma intermixed (GNBi) and ganglioneuroma (GN) represent benign variants of peripheral neuroblastic tumours. While historically surgical resection was recommended, watchful active observation has become the accepted management for a subset of patients.

Objectives: To review clinical features, biology, natural history and management of a retrospective UK CCLG study cohort of GN and GNBi, and compare outcomes of patients treated with surgical resection or watchful active observation.

Clean Intermittent Catheterisation via a Mitrofanoff Is Superior to Long Term Suprapubic Catheters for Bladder Drainage.

Aim: Some children require long-term drainage of the bladder but do not tolerate clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) urethrally. We aimed to compare long term suprapubic catheter (SPC) drainage vs Mitrofanoff conduit (allowing CIC) by comparing the survival of the drainage methods and rates of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Method: Retrospective review of a single surgeon's experience (2007-2023).

Surgery and the first 8000 days of life: a review.

The first 8000 days of life, from birth to adulthood, encompasses critical phases that shape a child's health and development. While global health efforts have focused on the first 1000 days, the next 7000 days (ages 2-21) are equally vital, especially concerning the unmet burden of surgical conditions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Approximately 1.

A systematic review of symptoms experienced by children and young people with kidney failure.

Background: Kidney failure at any age has a significant impact on quality of life (QoL) but the overall symptom burden for children and young people (CYP) is poorly described. Kidney failure has no cure and whilst transplantation is the preferred management option, it is not always possible, with patients requiring supportive care at the end of their lives.

Aim: To use the literature to understand the symptom burden for CYP with kidney failure who are approaching end-of-life.

Are we informing our patients correctly? Evaluation of perioperative counselling for paediatric intestinal stoma formation: a national study.

Purpose: Adequate preoperative information is known to improve patient outcomes. We aimed to evaluate perioperative education for paediatric patients and families undergoing intestinal stoma formation.

Methods: UK paediatric surgery centres were invited to recruit patients aged 6-16 years with a stoma in situ or reversed within the last 2 years.

Single-leg versus double-leg hip spica casts in the management of paediatric femoral shaft fractures? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Paediatric femoral shaft fractures can be managed with single- or double-leg hip spica casting between ages six-months and six-years. The aim of this review was to determine if single-leg hip spicas reduce the impact on family life without compromising fracture stability.

Methods: The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023454309).

The experiences of individuals with body dysmorphic disorder: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative research.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a distressing psychological condition where an individual is preoccupied by a perceived issue with their appearance. Qualitative studies enable nuanced aspects of BDD phenomenology to be investigated. The current systematic review used thematic synthesis to integrate the findings from the extant qualitative studies.

Sustained Increase in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Incidence Across the South West United Kingdom Over the Last 10 Years.

Background: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD) incidence has increased over the last 25 years. We aim to report contemporaneous trends across the South West United Kingdom.

Methods: Data were provided from centers covering the South West United Kingdom (Bristol, Oxford, Cardiff, Exeter, and Southampton), with a total area at-risk population (<18 years of age) of 2 947 534.

Diversity of kidney care referral pathways in national child health systems of 48 European countries.

Background: Primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services in Europe create complex networks covering pediatric subspecialties, sociology, economics and politics. Two surveys of the European Society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN) in 1998 and 2017 revealed substantial disparities of kidney care among European countries. The purpose of the third ESPN survey is to further identify national differences in the conceptualization and organization of European pediatric kidney health care pathways during and outside normal working hours.

Apixaban for Prevention of Thromboembolism in Pediatric Heart Disease.

Background: Children with heart disease frequently require anticoagulation for thromboprophylaxis. Current standard of care (SOC), vitamin K antagonists or low-molecular-weight heparin, has significant disadvantages.

Objectives: The authors sought to describe safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of apixaban, an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor, for prevention of thromboembolism in children with congenital or acquired heart disease.

Recurrent de novo variant causes childhood-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by excess sphingolipid synthesis.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the upper and lower motor neurons with varying ages of onset, progression and pathomechanisms. Monogenic childhood-onset ALS, although rare, forms an important subgroup of ALS. We recently reported specific variants resulting in sphingolipid overproduction as a cause for juvenile ALS.

Blinatumomab for First-Line Treatment of Children and Young Persons With B-ALL.

Purpose: We tested whether blinatumomab (Blina) is effective as a toxicity-sparing alternative to first-line intensive chemotherapy in children and young persons (CYP) with B-ALL who were chemotherapy-intolerant or chemotherapy-resistant.

Methods: Data were collected for consecutive CYP (age 1-24 years) with Philadelphia chromosome-positive or Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-ALL who received Blina as first-line therapy. Blina was given as replacement for postremission intensive chemotherapy to patients with chemotherapy intolerance or resistance.

A pragmatic, open-label, randomized controlled trial of Plasma-Lyte-148 versus standard intravenous fluids in children receiving kidney transplants (PLUTO).

Acute electrolyte and acid-base imbalance is experienced by many children following kidney transplant. This is partly because doctors give very large volumes of artificial fluids to keep the new kidney working. When severe, fluid imbalance can lead to seizures, cerebral edema and death.

Traumatic injuries of the immature hip and pelvis.

Purpose Of Review: The pelvis and hip account for 0.3--4% of fractures of the immature skeleton, and generally result from high energy trauma. These fractures range in severity from apophyseal avulsions to complete disruptions of the pelvic ring.

Review of standard paediatric neuroradiology MRI protocols from 12 UK tertiary paediatric hospitals: is there much variation between centres?

Aim: To investigate how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations are protocolled in tertiary paediatric neuroradiology centres around the UK for some of the more common presentations encountered in paediatric neuroradiology, and to identify any variations of note.

Materials And Methods: All 19 UK tertiary paediatric neuroradiology centres registered with the British Society of Neuroradiologists-Paediatric Group were contacted and asked if they could provide a copy of their standard MRI protocols. Twelve responded (63%) and 10 of the more common presentations were selected and the standard acquired sequences obtained at each participating centre were compared.

The UK kidney donor risk index poorly predicts long-term transplant survival in paediatric kidney transplant recipients.

Background: The UK kidney offering scheme introduced a kidney donor risk index (UK-KDRI) to improve the utility of deceased-donor kidney allocations. The UK-KDRI was derived using adult donor and recipient data. We assessed this in a paediatric cohort from the UK transplant registry.

Surgically Correctable Congenital Anomalies: Reducing Morbidity and Mortality in the First 8000 Days of Life.

Background: Congenital anomalies are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to review the common surgically correctable congenital anomalies with recent updates on the global disease burden and identify the factors affecting morbidity and mortality.

Method: A literature review was done to assess the burden of surgical congenital anomalies with emphasis on those that present within the first 8000 days of life.

Management of vagus nerve stimulation therapy in the peri-operative period: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists: Guidelines from the Association of Anaesthetists.

Vagus nerve stimulation is a well-established treatment option for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and has an expanding range of other clinical indications. Side effects of vagus nerve stimulation therapy include: cough; voice changes; vocal cord adduction; rarely, obstructive sleep apnoea; and arrhythmia. Patients with implanted vagus nerve stimulation devices may present for unrelated surgery and critical care to clinicians who are unfamiliar with their function and safe management.