Journal of pediatric surgery
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Comparative Study
Quality-of-life outcomes after surgical correction of pectus excavatum: a comparison of the Ravitch and Nuss procedures.
The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) outcomes within a group of patients treated for pectus excavatum (PE). ⋯ Patients undergoing surgery for PE by either Nuss or Ravitch procedure have similar clinical and HRQL outcomes, but as a group have poorer HRQL scores than age-matched population norms.
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Case Reports
Abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome after blunt abdominal trauma in an 11-year-old girl.
Chronic abdominal pain is a common complaint in children. Pain originating from the abdominal wall is often overlooked. Nevertheless, recognizing this type of pain prevents unnecessary examinations (Editorial: Abdominal wall tenderness test: could Carnett cut costs? Lancet. 1991, 337:1134). ⋯ The treatment also is equally simple and effective. We describe an 11-year-old girl with ACNES after blunt abdominal trauma, what we believe has not been reported before. Abdominal wall pain, for example, caused by ACNES, as other types of chronic pain, has a serious impact on a child's well-being and future coping mechanisms with disease and health behavior.
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The congenital central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome (CCAHS), also known as Ondine curse, is characterized by the absence of adequate autonomic control of respiration. The purpose of our study is to review our 20-year experience with diaphragmatic pacing as a treatment modality for CCAHS. ⋯ Diaphragmatic pacing is an effective treatment of Ondine disease. As equipment improved, there is much less need for replacement of components. Patients can lead a much more normal existence by being ventilator free at least during the day, enabling them to participate in normal daily activities.
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Comparative Study
Using multiple imputation and propensity scores to test the effect of car seats and seat belt usage on injury severity from trauma registry data.
Missing data and the retrospective, nonrandomized nature of trauma registries can decrease the quality of registry-based research. Therefore, we used multiple imputation and propensity scores to test the effect of car seats and seat belt usage on injury severity in children involved in motor vehicle crashes. ⋯ Multiple imputation and propensity scores demonstrated the efficacy of seat belts, but not car seat in this preliminary study. This statistical method can strengthen registry-based research.
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The epidemiology of pediatric blunt intraabdominal arterial injury is ill defined. We analyzed a multiinstitutional trauma database to better define injury patterns and predictors of outcome. ⋯ Blunt intraabdominal arterial injury in children usually affects a single vessel. Associated injuries appear to be nearly universal. The high mortality rate is influenced by serious associated injuries and is reflected by overall injury severity scores.