Appendiceal Carcinoids in Children-Prevalence, Treatment and Outcome in a Large Nationwide Pediatric Cohort.

: Appendiceal carcinoids are rare neuroendocrine tumors and mainly found incidentally during histopathological examination following appendectomy. This observational cohort study was performed to determine the prevalence, treatment modalities and outcomes in children diagnosed with an appendiceal carcinoid tumor. : Data from the largest German statutory health insurance "Techniker Krankenkasse" were analyzed within an 8-year period: January 2010 to December 2012 and January 2016 to December 2020.

Factors of family impact in a Swedish-German cohort of children born with esophageal atresia.

Background: After repair of esophageal atresia (EA), childhood survivors commonly present with digestive and respiratory morbidity, and around 55% have associated anomalies. Although it is known that these problems can reduce health-related quality of life in children with EA, less is understood about the impact on the family. We aimed to identify factors related to family impact in children with EA.

Laparoscopic versus Open Pediatric Surgery: Three Decades of Comparative Studies.

Introduction:  Despite its wide acceptance, the superiority of laparoscopic versus open pediatric surgery has remained controversial. There is still a call for well-founded evidence. We reviewed the literature on studies published in the last three decades and dealing with advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopy compared to open surgery.

Parent-child-agreement on health-related quality of life and its determinants in patients born with Esophageal Atresia: a Swedish-German cross-sectional study.

Background: The aim was to compare parent and child-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children born with esophageal atresia (EA) and determine factors that affect the level of parent-child agreement.

Methods: We included 63 parent-child dyads of children born with EA aged 8-18 from Germany and Sweden. The generic PedsQL 4.

ERNICA Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia: Perioperative, Surgical, and Long-Term Management.

Introduction:  Evidence supporting best practice for long-gap esophageal atresia is limited. The European Reference Network for Rare Inherited Congenital Anomalies (ERNICA) organized a consensus conference on the management of patients with long-gap esophageal atresia based on expert opinion referring to the latest literature aiming to provide clear and uniform statements in this respect.

Materials And Methods:  Twenty-four ERNICA representatives from nine European countries participated.

Low gestational age is associated with less anastomotic complications after open primary repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate anastomotic complications after primary one-staged esophageal atresia (EA) repair relating to the patients` gestational age (GA).

Methods: Retrospective data analyses of patients who underwent closure of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and primary esophageal anastomosis from 01/2007 to 12/2018 in two pediatric surgical centers. Exclusion of EA other than Gross type C, long-gap EA, minimal invasive or staged approach.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients after Repair of Esophageal Atresia: A Review of Current Literature.

Patients born with esophageal atresia (EA) require advanced reconstructive surgery and risk long-term digestive and respiratory morbidity. We describe the state of current literature on these patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and give recommendations for future research. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsychINFO and included articles from 2015 to December 28, 2019.

ERNICA Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Follow-up and Framework.

Introduction:  Improvements in care of patients with esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) have shifted the focus from mortality to morbidity and quality-of-life. Long-term follow-up is essential, but evidence is limited and standardized protocols are scarce. Nineteen representatives of the European Reference Network for Rare Inherited Congenital Anomalies (ERNICA) from nine European countries conducted a consensus conference on the surgical management of EA/TEF.

Gravitational Autoreposition for Staged Closure of Omphaloceles.

Introduction:  Management strategies for large omphaloceles remain controversial. In this study, we discuss the use of GRAVITAS (ational utoreposition utures), the method used at our institution when successful primary closure is deemed questionable. Patient's primary clinical course and long-term outcomes were analyzed.

Clinical Factors Affecting Condition-Specific Quality-of-Life Domains in Pediatric Patients after Repair of Esophageal Atresia: The Swedish-German EA-QOL Study.

Introduction:  We aimed to identify clinical factors affecting condition-specific health related quality of life (HRQOL) domains in children born with esophageal atresia (EA). This can facilitate preventive care to risk groups of HRQOL impairments.

Materials And Methods:  A total of 124 Swedish and German families of EA children answered the validated EA-QOL questionnaires (response rate 68%), for evaluation of three HRQOL domains in children 2 to 7 years old (53 parents) and four HRQOL domains in children 8 to 17 years old (62 children/71 parents).

ERNICA Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Diagnostics, Preoperative, Operative, and Postoperative Management.

Introduction:  Many aspects of the management of esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) are controversial and the evidence for decision making is limited. Members of the European Reference Network for Rare Inherited Congenital Anomalies (ERNICA) conducted a consensus conference on the surgical management of EA/TEF based on expert opinions referring to the latest literature.

Materials And Methods:  Nineteen ERNICA representatives from nine European countries participated in the conference.

Impact of maternal education on the outcome of newborns requiring surgery for congenital malformations.

Objective: Numerous studies established a link between socioeconomic status (SES) and several dimensions of general health. This study examines the association between maternal education as a widely used indicator of SES and outcome in newborns requiring surgical correction of congenital anomalies.

Methods: Ambispective data analysis of newborns with esophageal atresia (EA), intestinal atresia (IA), congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), omphalocele (OC), gastroschisis (GS) undergoing surgery between 01/2008-11/2017 accessing the clinical databases Neodat and Viewpoint.

Generic Health-Related Quality of Life after Repair of Esophageal Atresia and Its Determinants within a German-Swedish Cohort.

Aim:  Despite advances of outcomes of esophageal atresia (EA), knowledge on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is sparse. Due to the heterogeneity of EA, larger cohorts need to be investigated to ensure reliability of data. Aim was to determine generic HRQoL after EA repair in a Swedish-German cohort.

Health-related quality of life experiences in children and adolescents born with esophageal atresia: A Swedish-German focus group study.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare malformation of the esophagus, which needs surgical treatment. Survival rates have reached 95%, but esophageal and respiratory morbidity during childhood is frequent. Child and parent perspectives and cultural and age-specific approaches are fundamental in understanding children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and when developing a pediatric HRQoL questionnaire.

State of Play: Eight Decades of Surgery for Esophageal Atresia.

Aim:  Surgical expertise and advances in technical equipment and perioperative management have led to enormous progress in survival and morbidity of patients with esophageal atresia (EA) in the last decades. We aimed to analyze the available literature on surgical outcome of EA for the past 80 years.

Materials And Methods:  A PubMed literature search was conducted for the years 1944 to 2017 using the keywords "esophageal/oesophageal atresia," "outcome," "experience," "management," and "follow-up/follow up.

Quality of Life in Parents of Children Born with Esophageal Atresia.

Introduction:  For parents of chronically ill children, the experiences of caregiving are challenged by increased demands and restrictions imposed by their child's disease. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the quality of life (QoL) in parents of children born with esophageal atresia (EA) and to explore associated factors.

Materials And Methods:  Parents of children (2-17 years) with EA recruited from two German pediatric hospitals participated in this cross-sectional study about QoL in EA.

The Esophageal-Atresia-Quality-of-life Questionnaires: Feasibility, Validity and Reliability in Sweden and Germany.

Objectives: Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare malformation characterized of discontinuity of the esophagus, concurrent with or without a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). We report the feasibility validity and reliability of a condition-specific quality-of-life (QOL) tool for EA/TEF children, the age-adapted EA-QOL-questionnaires, when used in Sweden and Germany.

Methods: A total of 124 families of children with EA/TEF participated in the study; 53 parents completed the EA-QOL-questionnaire for children aged 2 to 7 years; 62 children/71 parents the EA-QOL-questionnaire for children 8 to 17 years.

Surgical Management of Congenital Abdominal Wall Defects in Germany: A Population-Based Study and Comparison with Literature Reports.

 We aimed to analyze for the first time the characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes in infants with congenital abdominal wall defects (CAWDs) in Germany and to compare the results with current literature reports.  Data of a health insurance covering approximately 10% of the German population were analyzed. Patients who had undergone CAWD closure during a period of nearly 6 years were included.

Laparoscopic transperitoneal heminephrectomy for duplex kidney in infants and children: a comparative study.

Background And Objective: Evaluation of the feasibility, safety, and outcome of laparoscopic heminephrectomy for duplex kidneys in children above and below the age of 12 months.

Patients And Methods: The transperitoneal surgical technique included division of the parenchyma with a sealing device (LigaSure™; Covidien, Mansfield, MA) and amputation of the ureter as low as possible. A follow-up study was performed.

Thoracoscopic procedures in pediatric surgery: what is the evidence?

Introduction: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has gained enormous acceptance among pediatric surgeons. However, most studies on advantages of VATS do not reach a high level of evidence. According to a recent classification of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM), studies can be classified into Levels 1 to 5 in order of descending quality.

Minimally invasive repair of esophageal atresia: an update.

We reviewed the available literature on the role of minimally invasive techniques for esophageal atresia (EA)/tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair. No prospective studies have been published to date. According to the recent classification of the Oxford Centre for Evidence based Medicine, the best available evidence for studies comparing the minimally invasive versus open approach for EA/TEF repair is Level 3 (a, b).

Application and limitations of transient liver elastography in children.

Objectives: Transient elastography (TE) using the FibroScan has gained popularity recently for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. Data on its use in children younger than 6 years are still scarce, and the influence of technical aspects such as probe choice and site of measurement on FibroScan results is not clear. Our study aims to clarify some technical issues concerning the use of the FibroScan in children and to deliver normal FibroScan values for reference.