Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS): challenges in diagnosis and management

Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is a rare, congenital functional intestinal obstruction, characterised by megacystis (bladder distention in the absence of mechanical obstruction), microcolon and intestinal hypoperistalsis (dysmotility).We are reporting a case of a female child with normal antenatal course who presented with recurrent episodes of abdominal distension since the second day of life and underwent negative exploratory laparotomy on multiple occasions. She also had urinary retention with a grossly distended bladder, requiring drainage by clean intermittent catheterisation. Surgical procedures for bowel decompression, including gastrostomy and ileostomy, were carried out without success. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in the human smooth muscle (enteric) gamma-actin gene (ACTG2 gene), clinching the diagnosis of MMIHS. The patient was managed with parenteral nutrition and prokinetic medications and tolerated jejunostomy feeds for a brief period before she succumbed to the illness.Female neonates or infants presenting with abdominal distension and dilated urinary tract should be investigated for MMIHS early on. A timely diagnosis will enable the early involvement of a multidisciplinary team to provide the best options available for management.

Successful Laparoscopic Management of Zinner Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient

Zinner syndrome, a rare congenital anomaly affecting males, is characterized by atresia of the ejaculatory duct, seminal vesicle cysts, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. This case report details a 2-year-old boy successfully treated with laparoscopic excision of a dilated vas deferens and seminal vesicle cyst. The rarity of Zinner syndrome in pediatric patients underscores the importance of understanding its diagnosis and minimally invasive surgical management.

Study of Intrahepatic Biliary Architecture in Patients Operated for Extrahepatic Biliary Atresia using Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography

Aim

The aim is to study intrahepatic biliary architecture in patients following Kasai's portoenterostomy for extrahepatic biliary atresia using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP).

Materials and Methods

It is a prospective observational study in a cohort of patients who have survived with a complete jaundice-free period for at least 1 year. MRCP was done to look for various intrahepatic architectural changes during their last visit. Findings were correlated with liver functions and growth and development.

Results

Twenty-one patients were included in the study. The male-to-female sex ratio was 1.6:1, the median age at surgery was 75 days (18-140 days), and the median age at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 4 years (18 months-18 years). More than 2 years of follow-up was in seven patients. Left lobe hypertrophy was observed in six patients, right lobe hypertrophy was in three patients, intrahepatic biliary tract dilatation was in five patients, and altered signal intensity between intrahepatic ducts was seen in five patients. In addition, hypointense foci in the spleen were seen in one patient. Twelve children had normal weight for their age, ten children had the normal height for their age, and gamma-glutamyl transferase was elevated in all children. Only four children had a history of fever and jaundice.

Conclusions

The patients who survive after successful surgical intervention have near-normal liver gross architecture as on MRI/MRCP. Occasional findings of dilatation and lobar atrophy/hypertrophy are possible, especially in those with a history of cholangitis. The survivors also have acceptable growth parameters and normal liver functions.

Pediatric Appendicitis Score or Ultrasonography? In Search of a Better Diagnostic Tool in Indian Children with Lower Abdominal Pain

OBJECTIVES

To prospectively assess the performance of pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) in diagnosing acute appendicitis in the children with lower abdominal pain and correlated with ultrasound findings; and to assess the impact of the PAS on clinical outcome and its efficacy in differentiating between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis.

METHODS

A prospective study was done which included cases of lower abdominal pain. Appendectomy was done for PAS ≥ 6, and diagnosis was confirmed on histopathology. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was created to assess the PAS performance. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosing appendicitis were assessed, and analysis of agreement between ultrasonography and PAS score was done by kappa statistics.

RESULTS

Of 260 cases with lower abdominal pain, 205 were suspected of having appendicitis. One hundred fifty-nine had PAS ≥ 6. There were 2/159 (1.26%) cases of negative appendectomies and 2/46 (4.34%) cases of missed appendicitis. The mean PAS was significantly higher in patients with appendicitis than in those without appendicitis. The area under the ROC curve was 0.9925. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of PAS were 98.74%, 95.65%, 95.7% and 95.65%, respectively. Complicated appendicitis had significantly more PAS, fever, and cough tenderness than uncomplicated appendicitis. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography were 86.79% and 17.39%, respectively. Agreement between ultrasonography-proven appendicitis and PAS-dependent appendicitis was weak.

CONCLUSION

PAS has high efficacy in diagnosing acute appendicitis. Clinical outcome was more favorable with the use of PAS. Ultrasonography should be used judiciously and in combination with clinical judgment.

Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of the Extrahepatic Portal Venous Obstruction Publication Landscape

Introduction

A scientometric analysis was conducted to characterize the global research publications in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO), and state-of-the-art visualization graphics were generated to provide insight into specific bibliometric variables.

Materials and Methods

The Web of Science database was accessed for research productivity and bibliometric variables of countries, institutions, authors, journals, and content analysis of top-20 cited documents were performed. Collaborative networks and co-occurrence of keywords map were generated using VOSviewer software.

Results

Two hundred and sixteen records were retrieved with an annual growth rate of 2.53%. India is the leading country in productivity (n = 4339), followed by the USA and China. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, was the top productive institute. Sarin SK was the most prolific author, having the highest citations received and h-index. The hotspot topics were "portal hypertension," "cirrhosis," "children," "biliopathy/cholangiopathy," "liver fibrosis," and "liver transplantation" as per keyword co-occurrence networking. J Gastroenterol Hepatol had the most publications of EHPVO research as well the h-index. Regarding collaborative network mapping, the USA and Primignani M were the significant nodes among country and author, respectively.

Conclusion

EHPVO research publication volume is low but is gradually progressing with dominant contributions from Indian institutes and authors. Most highly cited articles are of low level of evidence, and multi-institutional collaborative research can be the way forward.

Defining the Indications of PATIO Technique for Urethrocutaneous Fistula Repair

Introduction

Despite the advancements in technique and technology, urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF) formation continues to be the most common complication after hypospadias repair.

Objective

The objective of the current synthesis is to define the indications of PATIO technique for UCF repair.

Materials and Methods

The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were interrogated for studies presenting primary data upon UCF repair by the PATIO technique. Data analysis was performed on MedCalc and R software.

Results

Eighteen studies were identified relevant to the current context: inversion of UCF tract has been described in 13 and ligation in 5. There were 2 duplications (abstract and manuscript). The overall success for PATIO is 88.2% (314/356). The success rate was variable between classic PATIO (inversion at 87.2%), ligation-inversion at 86.9%, and ligation alone at 88.9%. The success rate was not improvised upon by supplementing inversion of UCF tract with ligation (p = 0.957) or addition of a waterproofing layer (p = 0.622). PATIO has been used for single or multiple UCFs post hypospadias repair, genital piercing, and genitoplasty in cis- or transgender population for UCF up to 5 mm in size. The success rates were best for UCF <2 mm and worst for those approaching 5 mm. The results were, however, unaffected by the location of UCF along the penile shaft. Besides, the use of urethral catheter is optional and may be eliminated with shorter hospitalization.

Conclusions

PATIO repair may be considered for repair of UCFs (a) with diverse etiologies, (b) located anywhere along the penile shaft included coronal UCF, (c) preferably <4 mm in size, (d) single or multiple in number; multiple PATIOs may be done in the same setting, (e) in patients unwilling for prolonged hospitalization, (f) in patients unwilling for a urethral catheter, and (g) in hypospadias cripples wherein mobilization of distant tissues such as tunica vaginalis flap or a buccal mucosal graft may be required for supplementing the UCF repair.

Preoperative Triple-Phase Three-Dimensional-Multi-Detector Computed Tomography Imaging of the Hepatic Vascular Tree: An Accurate Road Map Prior to Tumor Resection in Hepatoblastoma

Objective

To evaluate the hepatic vasculature/tumor relations in hepatoblastoma patients with three-dimensional (3D) reformatted images after triple-phase multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and to compare these with the surgical findings to judge the accuracy of this investigation.

Materials and Methods

The study was carried out in hepatoblastoma patients after appropriate neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, prior to resection. Images were postprocessed at a dedicated workstation for multi-planar reformations, maximum intensity projection, curved planar reformations, and volume-rendered technique reconstructions. The reporting was done as per a specific protocol by both the radiologist and surgeon (per-operative findings) and the accuracy of MDCT ascertained as per concordance between the surgical and imaging findings.

Results

Fourteen children (13 boys, 1 girl) underwent surgery. Clinically, relevant information regarding vascular, tumor involvement, and interface with vessels was provided by the study in all cases. Although all tumors were deemed resectable on preoperative imaging, one procedure was abandoned due to an unanticipated portal cavernoma. While a few anatomical variations were unexpectedly encountered during surgery, there was good concordance overall between findings on imaging and surgical exploration.

Conclusions

MDCT with 3D reformatting provides accurate virtual representations of the hepatic tumor. This allows simulation of surgical resection with decreased risk of vascular injury and postoperative liver failure.

Bibliometric analysis of pediatric glaucoma

Purpose

The research activity in pediatric glaucoma (PG) was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated using a scientometric approach.

Methods

The "Web of Science" database was accessed for primary bibliometric data regarding PG using search terms "pediatric glaucoma," "paediatric glaucoma," "congenital glaucoma," and "childhood glaucoma." The data was analyzed for total research productivity, citations, and scientific output in terms of journals, countries, institutions, and authors. The results were further characterized for coauthorship links and visualized by VOS viewer software. Also, the top 25 cited articles were reviewed with the above bibliometric characteristics.

Results

One thousand two hundred and sixty-nine items were obtained from our search query from 1955 to 2022; these received 15,485 citations, originated from 78 countries. The top-3 contributing countries were the United States of America (n = 369), India (n = 134), and China (n = 127). LV Prasad Eye Institute (n = 58), Duke University (n = 44), and King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital (n = 42) were the top-3 productive institutes. The top-3 prolific authors were Mandal AK (n = 53), Freedman, SF (n = 36), and Sarfarazi, M (n = 33). Journal wise, "Investigative Ophthalmology" (n = 187), "Journal of Glaucoma" (n = 92), and "Journal of AAPOS" (n = 68) were the journals in which the most articles were published. The top-25 cited documents received 3564 citations and were published between 1977 and 2016. The key areas of interest were basic sciences (genetics of childhood glaucoma) and surgical management.

Conclusion

United States of America, LVPEI, Mandal AK, and "Investigative Ophthalmology" were the top rankers as far as the productivity and publications related to PG are concerned. Articles on molecular genetics in PG have received interest among the ophthalmology community.

Postoperative necrotising enterocolitis following incarcerated inguinal hernia repair

The occurrence of postoperative necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is rare. In comparison with the commonly known inciting factors for the development of NEC, surgical stress as a cause of NEC is relatively uncommon. We report a case of incarcerated inguinal hernia in a preterm infant who clinically deteriorated in the postoperative period because of NEC following herniotomy. The patient's clinical, biochemical and radiological features were suggestive of NEC, and the patient responded to the appropriate treatment based on the diagnosis. To conclude, incarcerated inguinal hernia should always be considered a causative factor for postoperative NEC.

'Waterproofing layers' for urethrocutaneous fistula repair after hypospadias surgery: evidence synthesis with systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the available evidence and to quantitatively evaluate the global results of different waterproofing layers in substantiating the UCF repair.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

After defining the study protocol, the review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines by a team comprising experts in hypospadiology, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, epidemiology, biostatistics and data science. Studies published from 2000 onwards, reporting on the results of UCF closure after hypospadias repair were searched for on PUBMED, Embase and Google Scholar. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Checklist (JBI) critical appraisal tool. The results with different techniques were compared with the two samples independent proportions test with the help of Microsoft Excel, MedCalc software and an online calculator.

RESULTS

Seventy-three studies were shortlisted for the synthesis; the final analysis included 2886 patients (71 studies) with UCF repair failure in 539. A summary of various dimensions involved with the UCF repair has been generated including time gap after last surgery, stent-vs-no stent, supra-pubic catheterization, suture material, suturing technique, associated anomalies, complications, etc. The success rates associated with different techniques were calculated and compared: simple catheterization (100%), simple primary closure (73.2%), dartos (78.8%), double dartos flaps (81%), scrotal flaps (94.6%), tunica vaginalis (94.3%), PATIO repair (93.5%), biomaterials or dermal substitutes (92%), biocompatible adhesives (56.5%) and skin-based flaps (54.5%). Several techniques were identified as solitary publications and discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Tunica vaginalis and scrotal flaps offer the best results after UCF closure in the synthesis. However, it is not possible to label any technique as ideal or perfect. Almost all popular waterproofing layers have depicted absolute (100%) success sometimes. There are a vast number of other factors (patient's local anatomy, surgeon's expertise and technical perspectives) which influence the final outcome.

Role of Procalcitonin as a Biomarker in Early Identification of Adverse Events Following Esophageal Atresia Surgery

Introduction

Surgical complication following esophageal atresia repair is one of the several factors known to influence the final outcomes. Early identification of such complications may help in timely institution of therapeutic measures and translate into improved prognosis.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of procalcitonin in early prediction of the adverse events after surgery in patients of esophageal atresia and the temporal relationship with clinical manifestations and other inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP).

Materials and Methods

This was a prospective study on consecutive patients of esophageal atresia (n = 23). Serum procalcitonin and CRP levels were assessed at baseline (prior to surgery) and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14. The trends in the biomarker values and temporal relationships of deviation in trend with the clinical and conventional laboratory parameters and patient outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Baseline serum procalcitonin was elevated (n = 23; 1.7 ng/ml: min: 0.07 ng/ml-max: 24.36 ng/ml) in 18/23 (78.3%) patients. Procalcitonin nearly doubled on POD-1 (n = 22; 3.28 ng/ml: min: 0.64 ng/ml-max: 16.51 ng/ml) followed by a gradual decline. CRP was also elevated on POD-1 (three times the baseline) and depicted a delayed peak at POD-3. POD-1 procalcitonin and CRP levels correlated with survival. POD-1 procalcitonin cutoff at 3.28 ng/ml predicted mortality with a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 57.9% (P = 0.05). Serum procalcitonin and CRP were higher for patients who sustained complications, so was the time required for hemodynamic stabilization. Procalcitonin (baseline and POD-5) and CRP (POD-3 and POD-5) values correlated with the clinical course after surgery. Baseline procalcitonin cutoff at 2.91 ng/ml predicted the possibility of a major complication with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 93.3%. POD-5 procalcitonin cutoff at 1.38 ng/ml predicted the possibility of a major complication with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 93.3%. Patients who sustained major complications depicted a change in serum procalcitonin trend 24-48 h ahead of clinical manifestation of an adverse event.

Conclusions

Procalcitonin is a good indicator to identify the adverse events in neonates after surgery for esophageal atresia. The procalcitonin levels in patients who sustained a major complication depicted a reversal in trend 24-48 h of clinical manifestation. POD-1 procalcitonin correlated with survival while the baseline and POD-5 serum procalcitonin predicted the clinical course.

A Bibliometric Study of the Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Publication Landscape from the Web of Science Database

Background

The number of times a research work gets cited by another article is one of the article-level metrics for assessing the quality of a research publication. Citation analysis by bibliometric review has been performed in several disciplines. The current study was aimed to systematically review the literature available on pediatric inguinal hernia since 1960 in terms of the 25 most cited articles in this field and analyze the bibliometric variables author and organizational collaborative patterns.

Methods

Thomson Reuters Web of Science citation indexing database and research platform were used to retrieve the most cited articles in pediatric inguinal hernia (PIH) using appropriate search strings. The characteristics (name of authors, the total number of authors, the title of publication, journal of publication, year of publication, etc.) of the 25 top-cited articles were recorded. Specific bibliographical parameters were derived and analyzed. Visualization maps were generated using VOSviewer software.

Results

The analysis revealed that the Journal of Pediatric Surgery was leading the choice of journal for publication. While most of the publications originated from the United States of America, Schier was the most influential author. Five of the eight top-productive authors are also the most connected.

Conclusion

Articles on laparoscopic repair in PIH have been heavily cited. Following the United States of America, Turkey stands out as the topmost productive country in PIH. The publications on PIH show that "collaboration" is the bridging force between productivity and influence on the academic community.

Publication landscape of Posterior urethral valve- A scientometric study

To assess the global research landscape in the field of Posterior urethral valve (PUV), a scientometric study was conducted to determine the quantity and quality of the research output and get insight into the key research areas and pattern of collaboration in the research community.

METHODS

Primary data was acquired from the Scopus® database. Various parameters like the total research productivity, citations, citations per publication, citations per year, citations per publication per year, the scientific output of countries, institutions, authors, and journals were calculated. Key research areas were inferred by examining the top-cited articles (citations >150). Collaborative maps were generated by calculating co-authorship links amongst countries and authors using VOSviewer software.

RESULTS

One thousand seven hundred fourteen results were found published from 1913 to 2019, receiving a total of 27,253 citations, authored by 5138 authors from 125 countries. The top three countries were the United States of America (USA), India, and the United Kingdom (UK). The leading institutes were the Children's Hospital Boston, USA (n = 48), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, Delhi), India (n = 38), and Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK (n- = 27). The journals which published the most articles on PUV were the Journal of Urology (n = 278), Journal of Pediatric Urology (n = 121), followed by Urology (n = 86). Leading authors were Glassberg, K. L and Bajpai M (n = 17, each), Canning DA & Kajbafzadeh, AM (n = 16, each), followed by Peters CA with 14 manuscripts. The top-cited documents (n = 10) received 2104 citations and were published between 1986 and 2010. The key areas of interest found were "long-term outcomes" (n = 4) and "fetal surgery" (n = 2). The most productive countries were also the most collaborative countries (the USA and UK).

CONCLUSION

In the research landscape of PUV, the USA, Children's Hospital Boston, and Glassberg, K. L, along with Bajpai, M were the top contributors in terms of the country, organization, and authors, respectively. The "Journal of Urology" and "Pediatric Nephrology" stands out in terms of bibliometric parameters considered. The hotspot topics based on the number of citations received were "long-term outcomes" and "fetal surgery" in PUV. The most productive countries were also the most collaborative countries (the USA and UK).

An Exploratory Study on Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Videos on the YouTube Platform

AIM

A study was conducted to explore the characteristics of the videos on pediatric inguinal hernia repair on YouTube and compare the most popular videos (MPV) with the least popular ones in terms of educative value vis-a-vis their popularity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The term "Pediatric inguinal hernia repair" was searched for on YouTube on August 15, 2021, with the filter set to "view rate." Pertinent data were collected from the 50 MPV and the 50 least popular videos (LPV) and then compared. The h-index and affiliation of the surgeon were obtained from the Scopus database, and their affiliation was further categorized as academic or nonacademic.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-five videos were found with median views of MPV: LPV being 9270 (interquartile range [IQR] - 12099):127 (IQR - 194), respectively (P < 0.0001). Most of the videos in the MPV and LPV groups were uploaded from the United States of America (USA) (MPV - 17 and LPV - 13) and India (MPV - 15 and LPV - 15). The MPV were on YouTube for a median duration of 3.1 (IQR - 5.5) years as compared to 1.2 (IQR - 2.3) years for the LPV (P < 0.0001). Ninety-two surgeons were identified. The median h-index of the surgeons of MPV was 3 (IQR - 12) in comparison to 1 (IQR - 10) of LPV (P = 0.13). The ratio of academic versus nonacademic affiliation among MPV and LPV was almost equal in both the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

On either end of the spectrum of popularity, the majority of the pediatric inguinal hernia videos on YouTube were surgical videos uploaded from the USA and India. The educative value of these videos was found to be low and widely dispersed. Surgeons from both academic and nonacademic affiliations had contributed similarly.

Electronic Medical Record System-Based Teleconsultations in Pediatric Surgery: An Initiative from a Tertiary Care Public-Funded Hospital in North India to Alleviate the COVID-19 Imposed Hospital Visit Restrictions

Background

There has been a dramatic effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the daily health-care services. The era of physical consultations is slowly being replaced with teleconsultation, and this current pandemic has tipped the scales further. This study highlights the preliminary experience in providing teleconsultation to pediatric surgical patients at a tertiary care hospital in north India.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective analysis of the electronic medical record system records of the patients undergoing teleconsultation at the authors' department between the June 26, 2020 and the September 26, 2020 was performed. The data were categorized on the basis of the type of consultation (urgent, semi-urgent, or routine) and the type of intervention. A comparison with the data from the corresponding months of 2019 was also performed.

Results

A total of 261 teleconsultations were conducted during the study period, with a success rate of 69% (181/261). Of these, 96% (171/178) were follow-up patients and 56% (99/178) presented with genitourinary complaints. After triaging, only 10% (18/178) of the patients required urgent medical/surgical attention.

Conclusion

In the current as well as postpandemic phase, teleconsultation can act as a potent triaging tool and can help in better utilization of resources alongside helping in the maintenance of social distancing by decreasing the number of physical visits to the hospital.

Fifty Most Influential Articles on Anorectal Malformations: A Tribute through Bibliometric Ranking

Background

With the global assimilation of "publish and perish" culture into institutional academics, there has been an exponential rise in the publication numbers. There are ~2500 PUBMED entries related to "anorectal malformation (ARM)." The young clinician in his pursuit to translate experimental research to bedside often finds himself lost "in the midst of plenty." This bibliometric analysis has been conducted to codify the seminal work on ARM for future reference and pay tribute to the most impactful articles.

Materials and Methods

Thomson Reuters Web of Science citation indexing database and research platform was used to retrieve the most cited articles in ARM using appropriate search strings. The characteristics (name of authors, the total number of authors, the title of publication, journal of publication, year of publication, etc.,) of the 50 top-cited articles were analyzed.

Results

The analysis revealed that the Journal of Paediatric Surgery was leading the choice of journal for publication. While most of the publications originated from the United States of America, Alberto Pena was the most influential author. The most studied topic was on associated malformations, and the most common study design was cohort studies.

Conclusion

The approach of citation analysis provided us an opportunity to retrieve the most influential articles on ARM. The trends in research in ARM have also been analyzed, spreading over five decades.

Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Extrahepatic Biliary Atresia

Background

Differentiation of neonatal cholestasis into neonatal hepatitis (NH) and extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is essential to formulate the treatment plan; promptness is indispensable for optimal outcomes. The clinical and nonoperative algorithms lack precision; the gold standard investigations (liver biopsy or per-operative cholangiogram) are invasive. There is a need for a noninvasive test which is both, sensitive and specific and has a high likelihood ratio.

Aim

To study the (diagnostic) role of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) as a serum biomarker to differentiate between EHBA and NH and evaluate the prognostic significance in EHBA based on its correlation with liver histopathology and serological predictors of liver fibrosis - Aspartate-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4).

Materials and Methods

This was a prospective study conducted upon patients of neonatal cholestasis presenting with acholic stools (n = 46) with equal number of controls (n = 45) with no liver pathology. Observational parametric included disease-specific workup and serum MMP-7 levels (all participants); liver biopsyl and APRI-FIB-4 (EHBA).

Results

(Diagnostic) Serum MMP-7 levels were significantly elevated in EHBA (n = 25; 28 ng/mL) as compared to those in NH (n = 21; 1.88 ng/mL) and normal infants (n = 45; 1.2 ng/mL) (P < 0.001 for both). Serum cutoff at 4.99 ng/mL differentiated EHBA-NH with a high sensitivity (96%), specificity (90.5%), and a negative predictive value (95%), with the number needed to misdiagnose being 23. (Prognostic) Inflammatory activity and fibrosis-stage on liver histopathology (METAVIR-and-Ishak scores) correlated with MMP-7 levels. APRI and FIB-4 scores also depicted a strong correlation with each other, age of the patient, and liver fibrosis.

Conclusions

MMP-7 has a diagnostic value in differentiating EHBA from NH and may also be used as a prognostic biomarker in the follow-up of these patients. MMP-7 levels in controls may be used as a baseline for future studies.

Acinar Cell Carcinoma of the Uncinate Process of the Pancreas in a Child Managed Sans Whipple's Procedure-a Rare Case Scenario

Acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor of the pancreas. A 10-year-old girl presented with a large tumor arising from the pancreatic head. Excision sans Whipple's procedure was performed. Histopathology revealed it as ACC. In the context of this case, this rare tumor is being reported to highlight that such tumors arising from the head of the pancreas can be managed successfully without always resorting to a Whipple's procedure.

Delayed Presentation of Jejunal Atresia with Multiple Enteric Fistula: A Case Report and Review of Literature

A 6-month-old boy presented with features of intestinal obstruction. Laparotomy revealed Type IIIa jejunal atresia. The proximal and distal bowel loops were in continuity through multiple fistulae between the adjoining bowel loops. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report of congenital Type IIIa intestinal atresia surviving beyond the neonatal age without surgery.

An Audit of the Provisional Date of Elective Surgery Allotted to Pediatric Surgery Outpatients of a Tertiary care, Public-funded Teaching Hospital of North India

Aim

The aim of this study was to review the compliance to the provisional date of elective surgery allotted to pediatric surgery outpatients at our center.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study was conducted in the department of pediatric surgery at our center. The children who were brought to the outpatient department with a previously allotted date of admission for elective surgery (DAES) and the final operation theater (OT) lists of elective surgery between July 2007 and September 2018 under one senior consultant (VB), were reviewed.

Results

A total of 2409 cases were allotted a DAES during the study period. Out of these, 12% (288/2409) were defaulters with a male gender preponderance (82%). Most of the defaulters (>49%) belonged to the day-care surgery group, followed by simple reconstructive (32%), major reconstructive (18%), and infectious sequelae groups (<1%). The difference in the proportion of defaulters from both the reconstructive groups was statistically significant (P = 0.0001). On a further system-wise subcategorization of children in the day-care group, the genitourinary subgroup constituted the majority (80%). Children who had to undergo staged procedures showed a significantly better compliance (P < 0.0001) to provisional DAES as compared to those belonging to the single-stage group.

Conclusions

Compliance to provisional DAES is poor among the children scheduled for day-care surgeries and those undergoing simple reconstructive surgeries in a single stage.

Choledochal Cyst of the Cystic Duct - A Supplement to Todani's Classification

Choledochal cyst of the cystic duct is a rare anomaly; broadly classified, the pathology may either present as a solitary anomaly or with concomitant involvement of other parts of the biliary tree. In the absence of standard guidelines for surgical planning, the definitive management is based on the experience shared in the literature in the form of case reports and case series. The available options should be discussed with the patient while explaining the possible short- and long-term complications. The authors herewith present two cases of choledochal cyst of the cystic duct along with a review of literature relevant to their etiopathogenesis and its implications for the definitive management.

Isolated Renal Mucormycosis in Children: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Isolated renal mucormycosis is rare in children. A case of 3-month-old infant presenting with right-sided flank lump and fever is being reported. Investigations revealed a nonfunctioning right kidney with intrarenal abscesses and a low percent-frequency of T-cells. He made an uneventful recovery following surgery and systemic antifungal therapy. Compared to the other forms of deep mucormycosis, a review of literature suggests favorable prognosis in children with isolated renal involvement.

Quality Assessment of YouTube Videos on Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy Using a Validated Tool: An Appeal to Trainees to Follow the Peer-Reviewed Videos for Learning Purposes

Background: Surgical trainees often resort to operative videos on the internet during preparation for surgery; YouTube is the most commonly explored video source by them. However, the quality of these videos is often questioned. This study was performed to assess the quality of available YouTube videos on laparoscopic pyloromyotomy (LP). Materials and Methods: The term "laparoscopic pyloromyotomy" was searched on YouTube on June 2, 2021, and 20 most-viewed videos on LP were included. A reference video on LP from WebSurg was also selected. The laparoscopic surgery video educational guidelines (LAP-VEGaS) tool was utilized for quality assessment of these videos. Descriptive variables, including the surgeon's details; year of video upload; duration of the video; view, like, and dislike counts; number of ports used; and instruments used for pyloromyotomy, were recorded and their relationship with video quality was studied. Results: The majority of videos were from the United States and India, and a surgeon could be identified in 90% of them. The median (range) video duration and view, like, and dislike counts were 2.89 (0.68-8.80) minutes, 2308 (1102-23,682), 5 (0-59), and 0 (0-11), respectively. The LAP-VEGaS score of the reference video was 17. In contrast, the scores of YouTube videos ranged from 1 to 14. The quality of these videos was poor in 5/9 domains. None of the descriptive variables showed a significant association with high video quality. Conclusion: Compared with the reference video, the overall quality of YouTube videos on LP was poor. Therefore, until a screening tool is available for selection of high-quality YouTube videos, trainees must resort to peer-reviewed video platforms.

Synchronous Development of Hemiscrotal Tissue in the Orthotopic and Ectopic Locations in Association with other Urological Anomalies

Ectopic scrotum is a rare form of congenital scrotal anomaly that is rarely encountered in pediatric surgical practice. Herein, we report an infant with a unilateral ectopic suprainguinal scrotum associated with undescended testis and multicystic dysplastic kidney. The case is reported in view of rarity of this anomaly in the general pediatric population.

Mucosal Schwann Cell Hamartoma of the Gall Bladder

Mucosal Schwann cell hamartoma (M-SCH) of the intestinal mucosa is a rare entity and incidental finding in histological examination. Histological characteristics are Schwannonian cell proliferation in lamina propria with S100-positivity. M-SCH-like lesion in the gall bladder is even rarer and is a recently reported entity. We report this extremely rare lesion in a cholecystectomy specimen of a 4-year-old boy, which makes it the youngest patient to be having M-SCH-like lesion in the gall bladder.

Rare Paratesticular Masses in Children

Pediatric paratesticular mass is common in pediatric surgical practice, and they could be because of an underlying encysted hydrocele, a teratoma, or an epididymal cyst. Furthermore, a malignant lesion such as rhabdomyosarcoma should be ruled out. Rare entities, such as fibrous hamartoma of infancy and cellular angiofibroma, are rarely encountered. We report two such cases of paratesticular masses with these rare pathologies.

Analysis of Top ten-Cited Articles Published in the Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons Over a 10-Year Period

Aim:

The objective was to identify, analyze, and categorize the characteristics (the type of article, country of origin, institution, authorship, topic, and the number of citations) of the articles published in the Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons (JIAPS) from 2008 to 2017, with particular focus on the top ten-cited articles.

Materials and Methods:

The above characteristics of the individual articles were tabulated in the Microsoft Excel^® sheet. The number of citations of an article was obtained from three databases (CrosssRef, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar). A final tally was obtained after removing common entries in the databases.

Results:

The total number of articles published was 613. There were 255 case reports, 209 original articles and review articles, and 149 brief communications. The top five countries of origin of the articles were India, United Kingdom (UK), Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, with 526, 14, 9, 7, and 6 articles, respectively. The institution, authorship, and topics of the top ten-cited articles were noted.

Conclusion:

Case reports are the most common type of articles published in JIAPS. Most of the articles originated from India, followed by the UK and middle-east countries. This analysis may provide insights to the editorial board and the members of IAPS about the trend of research and publications among the pediatric surgeons of India.

Mediastinal Pancreatic Pseudocyst in Children: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst (MPP) is an infrequent complication of acute pancreatitis in children. A contrast-enhanced computed tomogram (CECT) of the chest and abdomen can aid in diagnosing pleural effusion and MPP. We describe a child with MPP in whom a transcutaneous computed tomogram-guided external drainage was curative. The case is being presented, and the relevant literature is highlighted in view of rarity of this entity.

Segmental Ileal Dilatation Presenting with Neonatal Intestinal Obstruction

Segmental ileal dilatation is an uncommon cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction. This report highlights a rare combination of abnormal distribution of muscles in the muscularis propria and partial loss of interstitial cells of Cajal as causative factors for segmental intestinal dilatation.

Esophageal Button Battery in the Pediatric Population: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center

OBJECTIVES

To highlight different patterns of clinical presentation, share authors' experience in the management of children following button battery ingestion and their outcomes.

METHODS

This is a single center descriptive cohort study with a total duration of 5 y (January 2014 through December 2018). Battery removal was performed by urgent rigid esophagoscopy following department protocols. Outcomes and complications were observed in the post-operative period in all children. Contrast esophagogram was performed at 4-6 wk post battery removal for assessing esophageal emptying and detecting sequelae (stricture).

RESULTS

Fifty-two children (M:F = 31:21) with a mean age (+SD) at presentation of 47 (+27) mo were managed at authors' center during the study period. Most common source of button battery was electronic appliance remote (50%) and common symptoms at presentation were vomiting after feeds, dysphagia, chest pain etc. During endoscopic retrieval, majority (60%) of the batteries were lodged in the upper esophagus and predominant impaction was noticed at anterior wall (81%) of esophagus. Upon injury assessment, grade 3 followed by grade 2 were detected in 59% and 41% cases respectively. Five children developed complications. Two deaths due to catastrophic hemorrhage (aorto-esophageal fistula) and refractory sepsis (tracheoesophageal fistula) occurred in present cohort. While contrast esophagogram was normal in all survivors, self-limiting symptoms like mild chest pain during swallowing and cough were observed during the follow-up. Median (IQR) duration of hospital stay and follow-up were 2 d (1-2.75) and 14.5 mo (8.5-17.5) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Accidental button battery ingestion can be life-threatening. Diagnosis is often delayed due to non-specific clinical presentation and unwitnessed ingestions. Esophagoscopic retrieval is the treatment modality of choice. Despite having significant esophageal injury at the time of removal, no long-term sequelae (clinical or radiological) were observed in present study.

Giant Gastric Polyp in Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome: Report of a Case

Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder presenting as hamartomatous polyps in the small bowel, mucocutaneous pigmentation and with a predisposition to develop cancer. We report a case of PJS, with an adenomatous giant gastric polyp. The purpose is to highlight that adenomatous giant gastric polyp may be an extremely rare presentation of PJS. Awareness of this possibility will help us in not missing out these atypical cases of PJS.

Gastric Adenomyosis: A Rare Cause of Pyloric Mass in Children

Adenomyoma of the stomach is a benign tumor with a very low incidence. Clinical presentation and imaging modalities are usually nonspecific and variable. A rare case of gastric adenomyoma in a 12-year-old child is being reported who presented with gastric outlet obstruction. The diagnosis could only be established after an excision biopsy performed after multiple diagnostic modalities failed to clinch the diagnosis. The case is being reported in view of the rarity of this entity in the pediatric age group as a cause of gastric outlet obstruction.

Correlation of Hepatic Artery Resistive Index with Portal Pressure and Serum Nitric Oxide Levels in Patients with Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction

Aim:

The aim was to study the correlation of hepatic artery resistive index (HARI) with the portal pressure (PP) and its surrogate marker serum nitric oxide (NO) levels and to determine the validity of HARI as noninvasive indirect marker of PP in extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) pre- and postoperatively.

Methods:

A prospective study was conducted on 19 patients with EHPVO undergoing proximal lienorenal (LR) shunt or devascularization from February 2016 to January 2018. HARI, calculated from Doppler sonography, and NO were measured preoperatively and 14, 30 and 90 days postoperatively. Intraoperatively, PP was measured before splenectomy, and both PP and NO were measured postshunt.

Results:

Mean age was 10.58 ± 2.85 years, and male:female ratio was 15:4. LR shunt was done in 16 while three patients required devascularization. There was a significant fall in the HARI (0.06 ± 0.02, P = 0.02), NO (14.31 ± 2.66 μmol/l, P < 0.001), and PP (11.81 ± 1.03 mmHg, P < 0.001) following shunt surgery. However, fall in HARI did not correlate with fall in PP. Preoperative HARI also did not correlate with preshunt/devascularization PP nor with preoperative NO. Postoperatively, HARI did not correlate with NO at 14-, 30-, and 90-day follow-up.

Conclusion:

HARI bears no correlation with PP or NO. Hence, it cannot be used as an indirect marker of PP.

Repair of Ruptured Omphalocele Sac in the Neonatal Period and Beyond

Conservative management of giant omphalocele in the neonate period is a known strategy to allow tissue growth aiding in anatomical closure. However, rupture of the covering sac is considered an absolute contraindication for continuing conservative management. We report a case where a ruptured sac of giant omphalocele was ingeniously sutured to restore its integrity, and conservative management continued. The giant omphalocele later became a huge ventral hernia and was gradually reduced and primary closure was achieved with multiple surgeries over a period of 4 years.

Developmental Status of Children Operated for Esophageal Atresia with or without Tracheoesophageal Fistula Along with Maternal Stress, Their Quality of life, and Coping Abilities at AIIMS, New Delhi

INTRODUCTION

 Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA with or without TEF) is one of the neonatal surgical emergencies requiring surgical intervention in the early neonatal period, influencing the developmental outcome in the operated children. This study was aimed to assess the developmental status of children operated for EA with or without TEF along with maternal stress, their quality of life (QOL), and coping abilities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 51 children aged up to 5 years after EA with or without TEF repair and their mothers' in a tertiary care facility. The tools used were, namely, demographic datasheet of child and mother, anthropometry assessment, Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants, and modified Vineland Social Maturity Scale for the developmental evaluation, Child Behavior Checklist (1.5-5 years) caregiver report form, Parental Stress Scale, WHOQOL BREF, and Coping Strategies Checklist.

RESULTS

 The majority of children had low weight (47.1%) and height (31.4%), for reference age. The overall and social developmental delay was observed in 40.7 and 37.5% of children, respectively, and few children (7.4%) had behavioral problems in the borderline range. Among the mothers, 47% had moderate stress and relatively poor QOL in environmental (60.1 ± 18.9) and psychological (60.8 ± 18.8) domains. The most commonly used coping strategy by the mothers was an emotional outlet (29.4%).

CONCLUSION

 Developmental delay was present in children operated for EA with or without TEF caused significant stress among mothers, affecting their QOL for which the emotional outlet was the most commonly used coping strategy.

Antenatally Diagnosed Surgical Conditions: Fetus As Our Patient

In today's era of improved antenatal care and screening modalities (3D high-resolution fetal ultrasound, fetal magnetic resonance imaging, fetal echocardiography, maternal serum markers and fetal blood sampling), an early diagnosis of surgical fetal abnormalities is routinely possible. A thorough knowledge about the incidence of such defects, the means of detection and evaluation, the scope of fetal intervention, postnatal management and long-term outcomes of common surgical conditions diagnosed antenatally is essential. This knowledge would not only help in proper patient care and management but also to ensure appropriate counselling of the expectant parents. This article highlights the fetal anomalies which are amenable to some form of fetal intervention from a pediatric surgical perspective as also those which can be treated after birth.

Whipple's Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Pediatric Patients: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Center

Purpose:

Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy (WPD) is rarely required in children. However, WPD is the only option with pathologies involving the head of the pancreas requiring surgical excision. The objective of our study was to review our experience with WPD performed on children.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective analysis of case records was conducted on all patients <18 years of age, who underwent WPD at our center over the last 20 years. Data regarding demographics, signs, and symptoms at presentation, diagnostic imaging and procedures, pathologic reports, surgical and medical treatment, and follow-up were collected to study the indications and safety and outcomes of WPD in children.

Results:

Five patients had been planned for a WPD during the study (1995–2015); but in one patient, the procedure was abandoned, the rest four patients formed the study group. Male to female ratio was 3:1. Median age at the time of surgery was 9 years (11 months–12 years). The most common presentation was obstructive jaundice (50%, 2/4). Radiological imaging was able to accurately predict the surgical procedure required in all except one case. The mean operating time was 205 min (180–240 min). There were no intraoperative complications. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 85 mL (20–150 mL). The youngest patient requiring WPD was an 11-month-old child. Oral feeding was established by the 7^th postoperative day (range 5–7 days) in all cases. There were no cases of anastomotic leak or pancreatic or jejunal fistulae. One patient developed features of subacute intestinal obstruction after discharge and required re-exploration. There was no intra- or post-operative mortality.

Conclusion:

WPD is safe and efficacious procedure in a selected group of children. The overall efficacy of surgical treatment combined with the relatively low severity of complications leads us to recommend WPD in children when indicated.

Comparison of Anatomical Landmarks and Dimensions in a Hypospadiac Glans with Those of a Normal Glans

Aim of the Study

The aim of this study is to establish ventral glans length (VGL), meatus (M) size, and their ratio VGL/M (R) in normal Indian boys and to compare these with the respective equivalent dimensions in boys with distal and mid-penile hypospadias using anatomic landmarks.

Methods

Normal boys were designated as Group A (n = 108), and the boys with hypospadias were designated as Group B (n = 81). The anatomical landmarks marked on the glans were measured using a digital camera and appropriate software.

Results

The mean age of the boys in Groups A and B was 4.26 ± 3.59 (range 0.5-12) and 3.82 ± 2.85 (0.7-11) years, respectively. The observed mean values in Group A for VGL-A, M-A, and R-A were 3.05 ± 1.27 (range 1.19-8.09), 4.3 ± 1.23 (range 1.61-7.04), and 0.8 ± 0.45 (range 0.27-2.1) mm, respectively. The observed mean values in Group B for VGL-B, M-B, and R-B were 3.77 ± 0.81 (range 12.41-5.2), 3.27 ± 0.71 (range 2.25-5.34), and 1.17 ± 0.26 (range 0.84-1.86) mm, respectively. Comparison of R-A and R-B showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The dimensions and the studied ratio between a hypospadiac glans and a normal glans differed significantly. The ratio between VGL and M was 0.8 in normal boys. In comparison, the ratio between the equivalent VGL and M in the hypospadiac boys was 1.17. During glansplasty in surgery for hypospadias, this factor should be taken into consideration to avoid the creation of long and tight ventral glans closure.

Esophageal Lung-Clinical Images

Esophageal lung (EL) is a highly rare anomaly, wherein the bronchus of a lung connects directly with the esophagus. Repeated lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is the hallmark of this condition. We present the clinical images of a 5-month-old boy who presented with repeated LRTI since birth. On evaluation, EL was diagnosed. Excision of the lung with abnormally communicating bronchus and primary repair of the esophagus was curative.

Teratoma in the Hepatoduodenal Ligament

A teratoma is not an uncommon tumor in the pediatric age group. It has a predilection for specific sites, but a teratoma arising from the hepatoduodenal ligament (HDL) is very rare. Only 15 cases of HDL teratoma have been reported so far. Due to the proximity to important structures, it is imperative that the correct anatomical localization is done preoperatively to avoid intraoperative surprises. Herein, we report a case of HDL teratoma in a toddler who underwent a successful excision. The relevant literature is also discussed briefly from a pediatric surgeon's perspective.

Giant renal Angiomyolipoma masquerading as a Wilms tumor

Renal Angiomyolipoma (AML) is not commonly seen in the pediatric age group other than patients of tuberous sclerosis where in they can have renal AMLs within the first decade with bilateral in involvement. Diagnosis of renal AML can generally be made by the current radiological modalities in the appropriate clinical setting, but it can be mistaken for other tumors when it is large and has low-fat content. Herein we report a case of giant renal AML that was initially misdiagnosed as a Wilms tumor in a 12-year-old girl.