[Dog bites, a current problem in our environment]

AIMS

Dog bites are frequent reason for consultation in pediatrics emergency department. Despite in our environment dog bites are rarely lethal, some of these accidents can have serious aesthetics consequences. The main goal of this article is to analyze dog bites casuistry and their impact in our community.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective review of patients treated for dog bite in a tertiary pediatric center between 2013-2018. We studied patient's demographic variables, bite localization, dog-patient relationship, antibiotic therapy, need for admission, complications and secondary sequelae.

RESULTS

256 cases were analyzed (average age 6.4 years), 133 boys (51.9%) and 123 girls (48%). In 153 cases, the aggressor dog was from the patient's familiar environment (59.8%). The most frequent location of the wounds was head and neck (94.1%), followed by extremities (4.7%) and genitals (1.6%). In 227 cases (88.7%) antibiotics were administered. Wound infection was the most frequent complication, occurring in 5 patients (2%). 20 patients (7.8%) required hospital admission with a mean stay of 1.6 days. Aesthetic sequelae were described in 10 cases (3.9%), 7 of which required correcting surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Dog bites persist as a frequent reason for medical consultation, most of them are provoked by patient familiar dogs. Wound infection represents the major complication, and the facial aesthetic sequelae are the most frequent indication for surgical intervention. We consider due to the amount of dog bites and their sequelae, the inclusion of preventive measures against these accidents in home prevention guidelines could be useful to reduce the incidence of these injuries.

[Should the laparoscopic approach be avoided in a Nissen fundoplication procedure?]

OBJECTIVE

A recently published trial concludes that the recurrence of GER by laparoscopic fundoplication (LF) is higher than by open surgery (OF) modifying their informed consent and the surgery approach. Objective: To analyze our results to assess changing clinical practice where the laparoscopy is the approach of choice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of patients undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication between 2010-2015. The same criteria of the reference clinical trial were applied in the collected data and recurrence criteria.

RESULTS

56 patients were operated. Our patients were comparable on sex and neurological injury to those of the study. Our average follow-up was 2.6 years (0.07-6.3). During the monitoring period there were five recurrences. The relative risk (RR) of failure in the LF group was 4 times higher than ours (RR 4.19; 95% CI, 1.66-10.5). Our survival was 90% per year. Multivariate analysis was performed (Cox regression controlling neurological injury, esophageal atresia and after gastrostomy). Neurological injury (p= 0.01) was the only risk factor for recurrence.

CONCLUSION

A clinical trial is not enough to change clinical practice, but it motivates further studies. According to our review, the results suggest no increased risk of recurrence with laparoscopy but long-term monitoring is necessary.