Responding to the need: An evaluation of the subspecialty units in a pediatric surgical department in a limited resource setting using selected optimal resources for children's surgery strategies

BACKGROUND

The Global Initiative for Children's Surgery group published the Optimal Resources for Children's Surgery (OReCS) document outlining the essential criteria and strategies for children's surgical care in low-resource settings. Limited data exist on subspecialties in pediatric surgery and their contribution to global surgery efforts. The study aimed to evaluate the development of subspecialty units within Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) Department of Pediatric Surgery (DPS) from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 using selected OReCS strategies for the improvement of pediatric surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective descriptive research design was followed. The study population consisted of CHBAH PSD records. The following data were collected: number of patients managed in PSD subspecialty unit (the units) clinics and surgeries performed, number of trainees, available structures, processes and outcome data, and research output.

RESULTS

Of the 17,249 patients seen in the units' outpatient clinics, 8275 (47.9%) burns, 6443 (37.3%) colorectal, and 2531 (14.6%) urology. The number of surgeries performed were 3205, of which 1306 (40.7%) were burns, 644 (20.1%) colorectal, 483 (15.1%) urology, 341 (10.6%) hepatobiliary, and 431 (12.8%) oncology. Of the 16 selected strategies evaluated across the 5 units, 94% were available, of which 16.4% was partly provided by Surgeons for Little Lives. Outcome data in the form of morbidity and mortality reviews for all the units is available, but there is no data for timeliness of care with waiting lists. There were 77 publications and 41 congress presentations.

CONCLUSION

The subspecialty units respond to the global surgical need by meeting most selected OReCS resources in the clinical service provided.

Correlation of white cell count and CRP in acute appendicitis in paediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Ten per cent of children who present with abdominal pain at an emergency department are diagnosed with acute appendicitis. The diagnosis of which relies on clinical acumen, but addition of tests such as measurement of the white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are needed to decrease the morbidity associated with inappropriate surgical management. This study evaluates the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the WCC and CRP separately and when used in combination and evaluates whether an increased WCC and CRP are associated with complicated appendicitis.

METHOD

A retrospective record review of all paediatric patients who underwent appendicectomy between June 2010 and December 2016 was conducted. Demographic data, the WCC, CRP and histology results were reviewed.

RESULTS

763 records were reviewed. The sensitivity and specificity of the WCC were 69.6% and 43.1% respectively and of the CRP were 95.4% and 24.5% respectively. The sensitivity was higher when both the CRP and WCC were elevated (97.47%). A normal WCC and CRP had a specificity of 98%, with an odds ratio of 8.69 of a patient not having appendicitis. There was a borderline significance between the WCC and the presence of acute appendicitis (p = 0.0494). The CRP was significant in patient with acute appendicitis (p < 0.0001). The WCC and CRP between uninflamed appendix specimens, uncomplicated appendicitis and complicated appendicitis was significant.

CONCLUSION

Both increasing CRP and WCC correlates with an increased likelihood of the presence of complicated appendicitis. The chance of a patient having appendicitis with both normal WCC and CRP is low.

Reversible small bowel obstruction in the chicken foetus

BACKGROUND

Ligation of the embryonic gut is an established technique to induce intestinal obstruction and subsequently intestinal atresia in chicken embryos. In this study, we modified this established chicken model of prenatal intestinal obstruction to describe (1) the kinetics of morphological changes, (2) to test if removal of the ligature in ovo is possible in later embryonic development and (3) to describe morphological adaptations following removal of the ligature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

On embryonic day (ED) 11, small intestines of chick embryos were ligated micro surgically in ovo. In Group 1 (n = 80) gut was harvested proximal and distal to the ligation on ED 12-19. In Group 2 (n = 20) the induced obstruction was released on day 15 and gut was harvested on ED 16-19. Acetyl choline esterase staining was used as to assess resulting morphological changes.

RESULTS

A marked intestinal dilatation of the proximal segment can be seen 4 days after the operation (ED 15). The dilatation increased in severity until ED 19 and intestinal atresia could be observed after ED 16. In the dilated proximal segments, signs of disturbed enteric nervous system morphology were obvious. In contrast to this, release of the obstruction on ED 15 in Group 2 resulted in almost normal gut morphology at ED 19.

CONCLUSION

Our model not only allows the description of morphological changes caused by an induced obstruction on ED 11 but also-more important - of morphological signs of adaptation following the release of the obstruction on ED 15.

Paediatric liver transplantation in Johannesburg: initial 29 cases and prospects for the future

BACKGROUND

The Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre paediatric liver transplant programme is the second such unit in sub-Saharan Africa. Initiated in November 2005, it forms part of the centre's solid organ transplant unit, comprising kidney, liver and simultaneous kidney-pancreas arms. Initially established in the private sector, we recently received government approval to expand our programme into the provincial sector and have performed transplants on several provincial-sector patients. Current challenges relate to the lack of appropriately trained paediatric sub-specialists, specifically critical care practitioners and hepatologists.

METHODS

Subsequent to institutional approval, a retrospective chart analysis of all paediatric liver transplants performed at our facility to date was conducted.

RESULTS

Defining children as those under 18 years of age, 29 patients have received a cadaveric liver transplant since 2005, using 16 whole livers, 10 reduced-size grafts, and 3 split segments; 13 were transplanted with biliary atresia, 3 hyperoxalurea, 3 autosomal recessive polycystic disease, 2 alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and 2 idiopathic, with the remainder for a wide spectrum of other pathologies. Seven patients received combined liver-kidney transplants. There were 3 in-hospital mortalities. The remaining 26 patients are all long-term survivors. We describe 7 acute surgical morbidities in 6 patients, and 8 long-term surgical morbidities. One patient was subsequently re-transplanted in Cape Town.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a shortage of organs, we have overcome a steep learning curve, with results comparable with other early series. The current threat to the continued viability of our unit is the lack of appropriately trained paediatric hepatologists and intensivists.

Damage control in the abdomen and beyond

Background

Damage control is not a modern concept, but the application of this approach represents a new paradigm in surgery, borne out of a need to care for patients sustaining multiple high-energy injuries.

Methods

A Medline search was performed to locate English language articles relating to damage control procedures in trauma patients. The retrieved articles were manually cross-referenced, and additional academic and historical articles were identified.

Results and conclusion

Damage control surgery, sometimes known as ‘damage limitation surgery’ or ‘abbreviated laparotomy’, is best defined as creating a stable anatomical environment to prevent the patient from progressing to an unsalvageable metabolic state. Patients are more likely to die from metabolic failure than from failure to complete organ repairs. It is with this awareness that damage control surgery is performed, enabling the patient to maintain a sustainable physiological envelope.

Mobile mammography: the first six-months experience at Mount Sinai Hospital

Mount Sinai Hospital's Mobile Mammography Program, BreastCheck, is designed to screen large numbers of women for breast cancer in the greater Hartford area. Despite the American Cancer Society recommendations for screening mammography, many physicians still are not complying with these guidelines. This report details our first six-months experience. Two thousand two hundred thirty women were screened, 38 women had biopsies, and 14 cancers were detected. The overall rate of breast cancer detection is 6.3/1,000 which compares favorably with the rates from the National Breast Cancer Demonstration Detection Project (BCDDP) of 4.6/1,000.