Health Disparities Research: What Every Pediatric Surgeon Should Know.

While the earliest published health disparity research in the United States dates to 1899, the field was not formally established until the late 20th century. Initially focused on race and ethnicity, the field has broadened to include socioeconomic status. Several measures have been developed to quantify socioeconomic disadvantage, including the Social Vulnerability Index, Area Deprivation Index, and Child Opportunity Index.

Classification and Surgical Management of Anorectal Malformations: A Systematic Review and Evidence-based Guideline From the APSA Outcomes and Evidence-based Practice Committee.

Objective: Treatment of neonates with anorectal malformations (ARMs) can be challenging due to variability in anatomic definitions, multiple approaches to surgical management, and heterogeneity of reported outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize existing evidence, identify treatment controversies, and provide guidelines for perioperative care.

Methods: The American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Evidence Based Practice Committee (OEBP) drafted five consensus-based questions regarding management of children with ARMs.

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage and severe anemia in a neonate.

Summary: Neonatal adrenal hemorrhage (NAH) occurs in up to 3% of infants and is the most common adrenal mass in newborns. The most common presentation of NAH is an asymptomatic palpable flank mass which resolves over time without intervention. In rare cases, NAH can present as hemorrhage, shock, or adrenal insufficiency.

Case of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Treated Without Blood Products.

Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) affects 3/100,000 to 80/100,000 patients yearly and can cause severe anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Recombinant human erythropoietin has been used as an adjunct therapy in patients with HDFN and hypo-regenerative anemia in the setting of receiving intrauterine blood transfusions. This case describes a patient with HDFN, in which the family were Jehovah Witnesses, and blood transfusions were declined.

Debunking Myths of Gender Informed Care: What Every Pediatric Surgeon Should Know.

As the transgender population in the United States grows, gender-affirming care is becoming increasingly relevant to the practice of pediatric surgery. Medical care for the transgender and gender diverse population is a politically charged topic with significant complexity and opportunities for clarification. It is important for providers to better understand this population's unique health and social needs.

Unplanned Extubation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Unplanned extubations (UEs) are common, potentially avoidable complications of endotracheal intubation among pediatric patients. UE can be associated with adverse patient outcomes including increased length of stay, hospitalization cost, and cardiorespiratory decompensation. Inconsistency in the definition of UE has led to underreporting.

Expanding Our Knowledge of Molecular Pathogenesis in Histiocytoses: Solitary Soft Tissue Histiocytomas in Children With a Novel CLTC::SYK Fusion.

The histiocytoses comprise a histopathologically and clinically diverse group of disorders bearing recurrent genomic alterations, commonly involving the BRAF gene and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In the current study, a novel CLTC :: SYK fusion in 3 cases of a histopathologically distinct histiocytic neoplasm arising as solitary soft tissue lesions in children identified by next-generation sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization is described. Morphologically, all 3 neoplasms were composed of sheets of cells with round-oval nuclei and vacuolated eosinophilic cytoplasm but, in contrast to classic juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG), Touton giant cells were absent.

Point-of-care Ultrasound to Assess Hemodynamic Contributors to Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Patients With Cerebral Malaria: A Pilot Study.

Background: Acute kidney injury is common in severe malaria and is independently associated with mortality. The pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in severe malaria remains incompletely understood. Ultrasound-based tools such as point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), ultrasound cardiac output monitors (USCOMs) and renal arterial resistive index (RRI) can be used to detect hemodynamic and renal blood flow abnormalities contributing to AKI in malaria.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Diagnostic Error in Pediatric Critical Care: A Multicenter Study.

Objectives: Effective interventions to prevent diagnostic error among critically ill children should be informed by diagnostic error prevalence and etiologies. We aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of diagnostic errors and identify factors associated with error in patients admitted to the PICU.

Design: Multicenter retrospective cohort study using structured medical record review by trained clinicians using the Revised Safer Dx instrument to identify diagnostic error (defined as missed opportunities in diagnosis).

Evaluation and Management of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review From the APSA Outcomes & Evidence-Based Practice Committee.

Introduction: Controversy exists in the optimal management of adolescent and young adult primary spontaneous pneumothorax. The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Outcomes and Evidence-Based Practice Committee performed a systematic review of the literature to develop evidence-based recommendations.

Methods: Ovid MEDLINE, Elsevier Embase, EBSCOhost CINAHL, Elsevier Scopus, and Wiley Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were queried for literature related to spontaneous pneumothorax between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2020, addressing (1) initial management, (2) advanced imaging, (3) timing of surgery, (4) operative technique, (5) management of contralateral side, and (6) management of recurrence.

Tracheostomy in the extremely premature neonate - Long term outcomes in a multi-institutional study.

Objectives: To describe the long-term outcomes related to breathing, feeding, and neurocognitive development in extremely premature infants requiring tracheostomy.

Study Design: Pooled cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Multi-institutional academic children's hospitals.

Impact of Routine Gastric Aspirate Monitoring on Very Low Birth Weight Early Preterm Infants.

Objectives: Routine gastric aspirate (RGA) monitoring is a common yet controversial practice intended for early identification of gastrointestinal pathology in infants receiving gavage feeds. Our objectives were to evaluate the association of ceasing RGA monitoring on the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) as well as nutritional outcomes in a large population of very low birth weight (VLBW) and very preterm neonates.

Methods: Retrospective record review of neonates born ≤32 weeks and/or VLBW from 2 cohorts: (1) during pre-feed RGA monitoring (September 2015 to June 2018) and (2) after cessation of RGA ("non-RGA") monitoring (July 2018 to December 2020).

Cardio-omentopexy requires a cardioprotective innate immune response to promote myocardial angiogenesis in mice.

Objective: The pedicled greater omentum, when applied onto stressed hearts using omentopexy, has been shown to be protective in humans and animals. The mechanisms underlying cardioprotection using omentopexy remain elusive. This study examined whether macrophage-mediated angiogenesis accounts for the cardioprotective effect of omentopexy in mice.

A Virtual Community of Practice: An International Educational Series in Pediatric Neurocritical Care.

Pediatric neurocritical care (PNCC) is a rapidly growing field. Challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on trainee exposure to educational opportunities involving direct patient care led to the creative solutions for virtual education supported by guiding organizations such as the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group (PNCRG). Our objective is to describe the creation of an international, peer-reviewed, online PNCC educational series targeting medical trainees and faculty.

Comparative Effectiveness of Diversion of Cerebrospinal Fluid for Children With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Importance: Diversion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been used for decades as a treatment for children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is recommended by evidenced-based guidelines. However, these recommendations are based on limited studies.

Objective: To determine whether CSF diversion is associated with improved Glasgow Outcome Score-Extended for Pediatrics (GOS-EP) and decreased intracranial pressure (ICP) in children with severe TBI.

Multicenter Assessment of Cryoanalgesia Use in Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum: A 20-center Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess the clinical implications of cryoanalgesia for pain management in children undergoing minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE).

Background: MIRPE entails significant pain management challenges, often requiring high postoperative opioid use. Cryoanalgesia, which blocks pain signals by temporarily ablating intercostal nerves, has been recently utilized as an analgesic adjunct.

Multifaceted Support Interventions for Siblings of Children With Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Background: When a child is given a diagnosis of cancer, the impact reverberates through the family unit. Siblings, in particular, experience an accumulation of distress. Siblings of children with cancer can experience both short- and long-term difficulties in psychosocial and physical functioning, and professional bodies have called for interventions targeted at their needs.

A hospital-based multidimensional intervention for high risk pediatric patients with asthma.

Objective: To determine the effects of a multi-dimensional intervention (consisting of education, recommendations for medical management, and short-term case management) provided by pulmonology nurse practitioners(NP) on inpatient and post-discharge outcomes for patients admitted with asthma exacerbations to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit(PICU).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was completed on subjects with an asthma exacerbation admitted to the PICU from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018. Records were reviewed for 12-months post-discharge.

Tracheostomy on infants born in the periviable period: Outcomes at discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Objectives: Advances in neonatal intensive care have allowed successful resuscitation of children born at the border of viability. However, there has been little change in the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and anatomical upper airway obstruction which may require a tracheostomy in that group. The benefits of the procedure are accompanied by sequelae that impact outcomes.

Tracheostomy in the Extremely Premature Neonate: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Objective: (1) To describe characteristics associated with tracheostomy placement and (2) to describe associated in-hospital morbidity in extremely premature infants.

Study Design: Pooled retrospective analysis of charts.

Setting: Academic children's hospitals.

A National Survey of Car Seat Tolerance Screening Protocols in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Objective: A predischarge car seat tolerance screen (CSTS) is currently recommended for all infants born prematurely in the United States to monitor for adverse cardiorespiratory events while in the semi-upright car seat. However, specific guidelines for failure criteria, timing of testing, and follow-up of failed CSTS do not exist. Our objective was to perform a national survey of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in order to identify common features and variation in CSTS protocols.

Post-operative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use for pain in infant and paediatric cardiac surgery patients.

Background: Pain control is an important element of care for patients after surgery, leading to better outcomes, quicker transitions to recovery, and improvement in quality of life. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in children after cardiac surgery.

Materials And Methods: Patients between the ages of 1 month and 18 years of age, who received intravenous or oral non-steroidal anti-inflammataory drugs after cardiac surgery, from November 2015 until September 2017 were included in this study.