Vol 11, No 1 (2021)

The study presents a case report of a generalized form of severe tetanus in an unvaccinated 11-year-old child. Pain and convulsive syndromes, respiratory failure, and damage to the gastrointestinal tract prevailed in the acute period. Antibiotic therapy, anti-tetanus serum, adequate pain relief, and anticonvulsant therapy were the leading treatments of the child. Moreover, the paper discusses literature data on the options for the clinical course and choice of treatment strategies. The lack of planned vaccination in children is unsafe.

BACKGROUND: Structural features of the patient’s vascular system can cause unintended complications when providing vascular access and can disorient the specialist in assessing the location of the installed catheter. This study aimed to demonstrate anatomical features of the vascular system of the superior vena cava and diagnostic steps when providing vascular access in a child.

CASE REPORT: Patient K (3 years old) was on planned maintenance of long-term venous access. Preliminary ultrasound examination of the superior vena cava did not reveal any abnormalities. Function of the right internal jugular vein under ultrasound control was performed without technical difficulties; a J-formed guidewire was inserted into the vessel lumen. X-ray control revealed its projection in the left heart, which was regarded as a technical complication, so the conductor was removed. A further attempt to insert a catheter through the right subclavian vein led to the same result. For a more accurate diagnosis, the child underwent computed angiography of the superior vena cava system. Congenital anomalies of the vascular system included aplasia of the superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava. Considering the information obtained, the Broviac catheter was implanted under ultrasound control through the left internal jugular vein without technical difficulties with the installation of the distal end of the catheter into the left brachiocephalic vein under X-ray control.

CONCLUSION: A thorough multifaceted study of the vascular anatomy helps solve the anatomical issues by ensuring vascular access and preventing the risks of complications.

This paper provides information about the life and work of Igor Nikolaevich Grigovich, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Honored Doctor of Russia, who is the founder of pediatric surgery in the Republic of Karelia and a scientist who made huge contributions to the development of surgical care for children of the Russian Federation.

This paper provides information about the sudden death from COVID-19 of Sergey P. Sergeechev, the head of the Department of Purulent Surgery of Tver Children’s Regional Clinical Hospital.

This paper provides information about the sudden death of Evgeny B. Kotik, the chief pediatric surgeon of Tula Region.

INTRODUCTION: Necrosis and perforation of the stomach and /or duodenum in newborns and infants is a rare but severe disease with high mortality. There are many theories about the etiology and pathogenesis of the necrosis and perforation of the stomach and duodenum in children of this age. Various treatment options are described, but neither foreign nor Russian publications have assessed the long-term results of the treatment of patients with perforation of the stomach and duodenum during the first year of life and the quality of their life.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze the results of treatment of newborns and infants with perforation of the stomach and duodenum and to assess their long-term quality of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analyzes the long-term results of treatment of 21 children, aged 2–12 yrs, with perforation of the stomach and duodenum. The volumetric evacuation function of the stomach and duodenum and the child’s nutritional status were assessed. A survey of patients and their parents was also carried out to assess the quality of life of the child using questionnaires from the EuroQol Research Foundation version EQ5D-Y.

RESULTS: The volumetric evacuation function of the stomach and duodenum recovered completely. The nutritional status of 16 (76%) children corresponds to their age. According to the results of the analysis of the questionnaire of the quality of life, eight patients aged >8 yrs and 15 parents consider the health profile of children as the best (71%), the parents of one patient assess the health profile of their child as satisfactory, and five mothers of children with neurological deficits rated as unsatisfactory.

CONCLUSION: Owing to the high adaptation capacity of the newborn and infants of the first year of life, most of the examined patients have a good quality of life and a normal nutritional status. The volumetric evacuation function of the stomach and duodenum recovered in all patients within 1–3 yrs after surgery.

BACKGROUND: The urgency of surgical treatment of children with nonparasitic spleen cysts is determined by the lack of consensus in the professional community, lack of regulatory documents governing the treatment of these patients, frequency of postoperative complications, and unfavorable outcomes.

AIM: This study aimed to improve the efficiency and safety of organ-preserving minimally invasive interventions in children with nonparasitic spleen cysts based on the development of a multifactorial preoperative planning system and substantiation of an algorithm for choosing the optimal surgical strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Results of surgical treatment of 60 children aged 2–18 yrs with nonparasitic spleen cysts are presented. The spleen cyst volume varied from 3 ml to 1000 ml (Me 50 ml). Preoperative examination included clinical examination, laboratory diagnostics, ultrasonography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography of the spleen vessels. The range of surgical technologies included percutaneous puncture (n = 2) and percutaneous puncture drainage (n = 28), followed by sclerosing of the cyst with 96% ethyl alcohol, combined interventions, supplemented by superselective embolization of the spleen arteries feeding the pathological formation (n = 15), laparoscopic fenestrations of cysts with physical de-epithelialization of the inner lining (n = 14), and laparoscopic resection of the spleen pole (n = 1).

RESULTS: The analysis of postoperative complications was carried out depending on the chosen technology of surgical treatment. The follow-up period of 44 patients varied from 6 mon to 3 yrs, which made it possible to reveal the regularities of the reduction of residual cyst cavities and the course of the regeneration processes with an objective assessment of the volumetric characteristics of the spleen. Obliteration of the residual cyst cavities was observed in 79.1% of the patients during the first month after surgery. Subsequent total obliteration of the residual cyst cavities was observed within 1 yr after surgery in 91.7% of children and residual pathological formations persisted in five patients, which accounted for 8.3% of clinical observations. The volume of residual cysts ranged from 1.2% to 10.0% of the initial value, which was regarded as a satisfactory treatment result.

CONCLUSION: Results of a retrospective multivariate analysis made it possible to develop an algorithm for substantiating surgical techniques, providing a radical cure for 95.5% of children with nonparasitic spleen cysts.

BACKGROUND: Injuries of distal phalanges are the most common type of hand trauma in children. The problem of coverage of soft tissue defects of distal phalanges remains. Many methods of coverage of distal phalanges defects have been developed. There is no generally accepted approach or an algorithm in treatment of adults and children with such type of trauma.

AIM: This study aimed to reveal the most universal method of coverage of distal phalanges defects in children using various reconstruction methods that are used at the Department of Reconstructive Microsurgery of Filatov State Children Hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2019 to 2020, 70 children with defects of distal phalanges were treated. The coverage of defects was performed by using a flap (n = 23), cross-finger flap (n = 5), V-Y advancement flap (n = 28), reverse-flow homodigital island flap (n = 11), and full-thickness skin graft (n = 3). Results of the defect coverage were evaluated by objective (difference between the lengths of the operated and contralateral phalanges, two-point discrimination test, presence/absence of stiffness in the distal interphalangeal joint) and subjective (definition of cold intolerance, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire) criteria.

RESULTS: The largest difference between the lengths of the operated and contralateral phalanges was obtained in V-Y plasty. The two-point discrimination sensitivity was the highest in V-Y plasty and a little less with island flap. Cold intolerance was the most common complication of homodigital island flap. Results of the DASH survey was the best in the homodigital island flap and full-thickness skin graft.

CONCLUSION: Based on the analysis of the experience of surgeries to close soft tissue defects of the nail phalanges, the best results were obtained with reverse-flow homodigital island, which is considered as the most versatile and reliable approach.

AIM: This study aimed to assess the formation of scar tissue after burns under the influence of an anti-scar gel. Understanding of the processes involving scars and the morphofunctional features of the tissue at different stages of development allows targeted selection of therapy and prevention of scars.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a comparative prospective analysis from 2005 to 2020. Of which two groups were identified. In group 1 (n = 47), burns were treated according to the standard scheme without the use of modern wound coverings. In group 2 (n = 41), early primary prevention of pathological scarring was performed, where the Contractubex gel was applied to the area of burn injury from the moment of epithelialization. Histological examination included the analysis of skin biopsies in the area of damage before and after conservative treatment.

RESULTS: Histological examination showed quantitative changes in the cellular composition of the scar tissue in all groups. The average quantitative index of the fibroblast activity was significantly reduced in group 2 using Contractubex gel. Thickness of collagen fibers, according to the morphometric analysis, is most reduced in all layers of the dermis in group 2 (p < 0.05). In group 1, collagen fibers are represented as nodular clusters; in some areas of the reticular layer of the dermis, fibers have a more fragmented appearance. In group 2, the use of Contractubex leads to a significant decrease in the level of tumor growth factor-β in the papillary and reticular layers of the dermis.

CONCLUSION: The use of Contractubex gel in the early prevention of pathological scarring significantly reduces the need for subsequent reconstructive surgical interventions

The review discusses sexual dysfunction and fertility problems in patients with anorectal malformations. Fertility problems in patients with rectal and pelvic abnormalities can develop against the background of concomitant genital malformations and after surgical interventions. Boys often have rectovesical or rectoteurethral (prostatic and bulbar) fistulas. In girls, anorectal malformations may be combined with vaginal atresia and uterine abnormalities leading to impossibility of pregnancy in the future. Psychological aspects have a large effect on sexual dysfunction. Poor results, such as fecal and urine incontinence, have direct influences on social adaptation. In assessing long-term results, multicenter studies have found that, at puberty, one-third of women and >10% of men had problems with their sexual function because of low self-esteem and impaired social adjustment. Anorectal malformations are not current problems in pediatric surgery. Patients need an interdisciplinary, personalized approach that includes timely diagnosis and surgical correction of defects, as well as detection and correction of disorders of anatomy of pelvic organs and internal and external genitalia.