From 1979 to 2006, fifty eight patients with esophageal atresia were treated by one pediatric surgeon at Hanyang University Hospital. We analyzed the clinical findings and outcome of these 58 patients. There were 30 males and 28 females. Their mean birth weight was 2,960 +/- 400 g (1,170~4,020 g). The most common type of anomaly was Gross type C (49 patients; 84.5 %). There was no type B. Fifty-two patients underwent definitive surgery. Postoperative complications were as follows: anastomotic leakage in 17 patients (32.7 %), anastomotic site stricture in 15 (28.8 %), gastroesophageal reflux in 10 (19.2 %) and recurrent TEF in 1 (1.9 %). A total of 152 associated anomalies were detected from 48 patients (82.2 %). The cardiovascular system was the most commonly affected (30 patients with 46 anomalies). The VACTERL association was present in 14 patients (24.1 %). Operative mortality was 17.3 % including self-discharge patients after operation.
Anal Canal ; Anastomotic Leak ; Birth Weight ; Cardiovascular System ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Esophageal Atresia ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Kidney ; Limb Deformities, Congenital ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Spine ; Trachea

Conventional treatment of Hirschsprung's disease consists of initial colostomy followed by pull-through operation. But, the treatment of Hirschsprung's disease has been changed along with the development of new surgical technique. Since 1995, endo-GIA has been available at our hospital and one stage Duhamel operation has been performed for neonatal Hirschsprung's disease. Between May 1995 and April 2006, 26 neonates have been treated with one stage pull-through operation by one pediatric surgeon at HanYang University Hospital. The sex ratio was 4.2:1 with male predominance. Clinical findings included abdominal distension (96.2 %), vomiting (50.0 %), delayed passage of meconium (46.2 %), constipation (23.1 %), and enterocolitis (15.4 %). Twenty two cases (84.6 %) were short-segment and 4 cases (15.4 %) were long-segment disease, of which 2 cases were total colon aganglionosis. One of the two patients with total colonic aganglionosis had double transition zones - distal ileum and hepatic flexure of the colon. The average age at operation was 14.56 +/- 8.77 days and the average weight at operation was 3.26+/-0.66 kg. Primary Duhamel operations were performed in 25 patients and Soave-Boley operations was performed in one patient. The endo-GIA 35 (Ethicon, USA) was used from 1995 until 1997, and after that endo-GIA 60 (USSC, USA) was used. The average Duhamel operation time was 88.57 +/- 22.80 minutes. Wound abscess (n = 2) and septum formation (n =1) occurred after Duhamel operation. Bowel function was normalized in 59 % within 3 months and in 95% within 1 year after operation. There was no mortality after one stage pull-through operation in neonate.
Abscess ; Colon ; Colostomy ; Constipation ; Enterocolitis ; Hirschsprung Disease* ; Humans ; Ileum ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meconium ; Mortality ; Sex Ratio ; Vomiting ; Wounds and Injuries

Intestinal malrotation is usually asymptomatic and most often is found during abdominal exploration for other surgical diseases. However, a serious complication of intestinal malrotation, midgut volvulus is a true surgical emergency of childhood. The clinical findings, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and prognosis of midgut volvulus were reviewed by a retrospective study. Between 1980 and 2005, 29 patients with midgut volvulus ranging in age from 1 day and 15 years were treated at HanYang University Hospital. Seventy-nine percent of the patients presented before 1 month of age. Midgut volvulus occurred 2 times more frequently in male. The clinical findings were bilious vomiting (96.6 %), irritability (34.5 %), abdominal distention (13.8 %), abdominal pain (10.3 %), and palpable abdominal mass (6.9 %). The diagnosis was made by abdominal simple x-ray (17.2 %), upper gastro-intestinal contrast study (37.9 %), abdominal sonogram (20.7 %), abdominal CT (3.4 %), and abdominal exploration (20.7 %). Among the 29 patients, 5 patients developed gangrene of small intestine due to strangulation and underwent resection of bowel. Two patients died due to sepsis.
Abdominal Pain ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Intestinal Volvulus* ; Intestine, Small ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vomiting

Biliary atresia (BA) is the result of fibrosing destructive inflammatory process affecting intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, which lead to cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Kasai portoenterostomy has been the standard operative procedure in biliary atresia. Recently, there has been remarkable increase in the survival rate in cases of BA. However, long-term survivors are not clearly evaluated in Korea. To define long-term prognosis factors of patients who underwent surgery for BA, a retrospective study was undertaken of 10 (37 %) patients surviving more than 10 years among 27 patients who underwent one of Kasai procedures between 1981 and 1995. Hepatomegaly was present in 4 and splenomegaly in 7 patients. Serum bilirubin was normalized at 1 year after operation. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), Alanine aminotransferase(ALT, GPT) were normalized at 12 years and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) was normalized at 13.5 years. Cholangitis developed mainly within 5 years after operation so close follow up is needed. Life long follow-up is needed because of progressive deterioration of liver function even after 10 years.
Alanine ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Biliary Atresia* ; Bilirubin ; Cholangitis ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Korea ; Liver ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenomegaly ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

Contralateral exploration in children with unilateral inguinal hernia is controversial. This study was done to identify risk factors for the development of contralateral inguinal hernia in patients with unilateral inguinal hernia. The clinical experience of 4,206 inguinal hernias repaired by one pediatric surgeon on 3,358 children at HanYang University Hospital from September 1979 to December 2002 was analyzed. 1,868 (55.6%) hernias occurred on right side, 1,190 (35.4%) on left side, and 300 (8.9%) were bilateral. 2,702 children were boys and 656 were girls (M:F=4.1:1). 170 children of 3,058 children with unilateral hernias (5.6%) developed contralateral inguinal hernia at 1 day to 95 months after herniotomy. 146 children were boys and 24 were girls (M:F=6.1:1). The patients who had had herniotomy before 1 year of age developed contralateral hernia in 17.4%, compared with 5.6% overall average. The earlier the first herniotomy was performed, the more frequently contralateral hernia developed. The occurrence of contralateral inguinal hernia was more frequent in boys (146 of 2,460, 5.9%) than girls (24 of 598, 4.0%) and more frequent after left herniotomy (80 of 1,190, 6.7%) than after right herniotomy (90 of 1,868, 4.8%), but statistically not significant. 52.9% of contralateral inguinal hernia developed within 1 year after hernia repair, and 87.6% developed within 3 years. Routine exploration on contralateral side in children is not necessary.
Child* ; Female ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal* ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Risk Factors

Intestinal duplication is a rare congenital anomaly. The diagnostic approach is difficult because of the differences in its location and clinical presentation. To evaluate the diagnostic as well as the therapeutic approaches in children, the medical records of 20 patients with intestinal duplications which had been operated upon from July 1980 to October 2002 were analyzed, retrospectively. The range of age was from 1 day to 11 years. The variables, such as age, sex, clinical presentation, diagnostic method, localization, anatomic type, treatment, complication, and combined anomalies were analyzed. Most of the cases were presented as incidental finding. The majority of the duplications except hindgut were cystic type. Treatment included segmental intestinal resection, excision of the lesion without intestinal resection, and septotomy. Seventy-five percent of the patients were detected before 1 year of age. The anatomic type of the lesion was closely related with its location. The cases of hindgut were almost always tubular type except 1 case. Clinical presentation was related to age, location, and anatomic type. There were no specific diagnostic methods. Perfect localization and application of appropriate operation are the most important requirements for successful treatment.
Child ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Intestines ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies

Preauricular sinus and preauricular skin tag are common childhood congenital anomalies. It is important for the pediatric surgeon to be familiar with the embryology and differentiation of head and neck structure to accurately diagnose and treat these lesions. Seventy-eight patients with preauricular sinus and twenty-eight with preauricular skin tag treated in the Department of pediatric surgery at Hanyang University Hospital from January 1981 to May 2002 were reviewed to determine relative frequency, clinical classification and appropriate treatment. The male to female ratio of preauricular sinus was 1:1.2, and preauricular skin tag was 1:1. The most commonly presenting age of sinus and skin tag was before 5 year (62.8%) and before 1 year (53.6%). Twenty nine of 78 cases of preauricular sinuses were on the left, 25 on the right and 24 bilateral. Sings of infectio were infection were seen in 73.0% of patients with preauricular sinus at operation. Only 31.3% of lesions were infected in patients less than one year of age, but 89.5% between 3-5 year and 100% between 5-8 year. Cartilage was present in five patients with preauricular skin tag. Although re-operation due to wound infection was necessary in four cases, no recurrences were found. The preauricular sinus is a common anomaly in childhood, and has had a relatively high recurrence rate. But most of the recurrence were due to incomplete resection because of combined infection. Initial proper diagnosis and early operation are very important. Identification of the exact anatomical location of sinus tract is necessary because total excision of the lesions including those tracts is the only way to prevent recurrence.
Cartilage ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Embryology ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Recurrence ; Skin* ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.
Hirschsprung Disease*

Branchial anomaly is a frequently occurring congenital abnormality in childhood. It is important for the pediatric surgeon alike to be familiar with the embryology and differentiation of head and neck structure to accurately diagnose and treat these lesions. Eighty-five patients with branchial anomaly treated at Hanyang University Hospital between 1980 and 2001 were reviewed to determine relative frequency, clinical classification and appropriate treatment. The male to female ratio of branchial anomaly was 1.2:1. The most commonly presenting age was before 1 year (32 %) and the age group between 1 and 3 year (22 %) followed it. According to the classification of branchial anomalies, 73 of 85 cases were second branchial anomaly, 9 had the first type and 3 did fourth type. One patient showed combined anomalies of the first and the second type. Infection sign were seen in 70 % of patients at the time of the first visit to our hospital and also patients' symptoms were frequently related with the infection. Forty-one cases (48 %) were fistula, 21 (25 %) were cysts, 21 (25 %) were sinuses, and two were only cartilage remnants. The most common type of the branchial anomalies is the second branchial fistula and the most common symptoms of the anomalies are related with infection. Initial proper diagnosis and anatomical classification of the anomalies are very important in managing the lesions. The efforts to find the exact anatomical location of the fistula or sinus tract are necessary because total excision of the lesions including those tracts is the only way to prevent recurrence.
Cartilage ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Embryology ; Female ; Fistula ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Recurrence

Lymphangiomas or cystic hygromas are quite commonly seen in children. During a 22-year period, from January 1980 to December 2001, 117 patients with lymphangioma were treated and followed in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Hanyang University Hospital. The male-to-female ratio was 1.9:1 (77:40) with a male preponderance. As for the age incidence at time of diagnosis, 10 (8.5 %) patients were noted under 1 month of age, 37 (31.6 %) were between 1 month and 1 year of age, 12 (10.3 %) between 1 and 2 years of age, so 59 (50.4 %) were under 2 years of age. Sixty one (52.1 %) lymphangioma-cases were located in the neck, including one case at the nape. Axilla was the second in frequency and the rest were scattered at various sites. The intrascrotal lymphangioma is very rare but we have experienced one case of primary intrascrotal lymphangioma. Eighteen (15.4 %) cases were located in the intraabdominal area, 10 in the mesentery, 2 in the greater omentum and 6 in the retroperitoneum. The chief complaints of intraabdominal lymphangioma were abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, inguinal hernia, palpable mass, and/or abdominal distension. Among 77 histologically proven cases, 14 cases were cavernous lymphangiomas and the rest were cystic lymphangiomas. Bleeding in the lymphangioma was noted in 20 (17.1 %) cases of all. As for the treatment, a complete excision was performed in 77 (65.8 %) patients and AgNO3 sclerotherapy after incomplete excision was performed in 23 (19.7 %). Picibanil (OK-432) sclerotherapy was performed in 17 (14.5 %) patients. Recurrence rate was 7.7 % and mortality occurred in one case who had a large neck lymphangioma extending into the mediastinum.
Abdominal Pain ; Axilla ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Lymphangioma* ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Mesenteric Cyst ; Mesentery ; Mortality ; Neck ; Omentum ; Picibanil ; Recurrence ; Sclerotherapy