• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2020

Background: Fever is a common cause of pediatric consultation in the emergency department. However, identifying the source of infection in many febrile infants is challenging because of insufficient presentation of signs and symptoms. Meningitis is a critical cause of fever in infants, and its diagnosis is confirmed invasively by lumbar puncture. This study aimed to evaluate potential laboratory markers for meningitis in febrile infants. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed infants aged <3 months who visited the emergency department of our hospital between May 2012 and May 2017 because of fever of unknown etiology. Clinical information and laboratory data were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed. Results: In total, 145 febrile infants aged <3 months who underwent lumbar punctures were evaluated retrospectively. The mean C-reactive protein (CRP) level was significantly higher in the meningitis group than in the non-meningitis group, whereas the mean white blood cell count or absolute neutrophil count (ANC) did not significantly differ between groups. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CRP was 0.779 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.701-0.858). The AUC for the leukocyte count was 0.455 (95% CI, 0.360-0.550) and that for ANC was 0.453 (95% CI, 0.359-0.547). The CRP cut-off value of 10 mg/L was optimal for identifying possible meningitis. Conclusion: CRP has an intrinsic predictive value for meningitis in febrile infants aged <3 months. Despite its invasiveness, a lumbar puncture may be recommended to diagnose meningitis in young, febrile infants with a CRP level >10 mg/L.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 1999

Dieulafoy's disease, a vascular anomaly mainly in the upper stomach, is a rare but potentially life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Pathogenesis is still controversial, but the most accepted theory is that a persistent caliber vessel in the submucosa is exposed by a small mucosal erosion leading to massive bleeding. The bleeding site is usually within 6 cm of the esophagogastric junction in the cardia or fundus of the stomach. The treatment of choice is therapeutic endoscopy or surgery. The age of patients reported is mainly between 50 and 70 years, and patients of pediatric age are extremely rare. We are reporting a 5-year-old male patient who had Dieulafoy's disease which was diagnosed by emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Endoscopic finding was a nodular lesion with an adherent clot on the lessor curvature of the stomach 2 cm below the esophagogastric junction. Epinephrine and $Beriplast^{(R)}$ was injected in the lesion. On the second day after endoscopic sclerotherapy, the patient had recurred massive hematemesis and accompanying shock. So we performed gastrotomy and ligation. After the operation, he showed an improved general condition and was discharged at the 12th hospital day.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the success rate of air reduction as the primary treatment of intussusception and whether the success of air reduction could be predicted by plain x-ray. The authors reviewed the medical records of 54 consecutive patients diagnosed with intussusception from Jan 2005 to Dec 2007 at the Department of Surgery, Masan Samsung Hospital. The natures of symptoms and findings of plain abdominal radiography performed in the emergency department (ED) were reviewed. Air reduction failed more frequently (26.3 %) in patients who visited ED more than 24 hours after symptom onset (p=0.009). The mean duration of symptom for operated patients was longer than air reduction group (p=0.01). Also, 3/4 of patients having localized distension of small bowel in the left upper quadrant abdomen had unsuccessful air reduction (p=0.002). In conclusion, the time interval from symptom onset to arrival at ED and localized distension of small bowel in the left upper quadrant abdomen significantly increased the failure rate of air reduction.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.84-88
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• 2008

If multiple magnets are ingested, the potential exists for the magnets attracting one another across the gastrointestinal tract and inducing pressure necrosis, perforation, fistula formation, or intestinal obstruction. We report the case of a 12-year-old boy who suffered from a fistulous communication between the lesser curvature of the mid-body of the stomach and the duodenal bulb, caused by 4 ingested magnets (Singing Magnets, China). The patient presented with moderate mental retardation, a one-year history of cyclic vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. We present the findings of simple abdominal radiography, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, computed tomography, and upper gastrointestinal series. An emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed, which revealed a gastroduodenal fistula. Fistula repair and the removal of 4 magnetic toys were subsequently performed. We emphasize that clinicians who care for children should be aware of the hazards of magnetic toy ingestion.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2003

Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in childhood. Open appendectomy has been the standard treatment. The minimally invasive techniques have been adopted in children after experiences in various surgical conditions in adults has accumulated. It is debatable whether laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is superior to open appendectomy (OA) in children. The goal of this study is to review the results of laparoscopy and laparotomy in the nonperforated appendicitis. The records of 22 patients under 15 years of age who were operated upon for nonperforated appendicitis at Asan Medical Center were analyzed between December 2002 and April 2003. Age, type and length of intervention, frequency of analgesic use, complication, length of hospitalization, and cost for each treatment groups (N=11) were compared. Laparoscopy patients were older (13.0 vs. 10.1 years; p > 0.05), and operative time was longer (55.0 vs. 35.0 minutes; p < 0.05). There was no conversion (OA to LA). The median length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in laparoscopy (3.0 vs. 2.0 days; p < 0.05). The median cost for LA was more expensive (W833, 836 vs. W751,398; p < 0.05). Even though there were higher costs and longer operative times with laparoscopic procedures, the shorter hospital stay was an advantage.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.490-493
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• 2016

Electronic cigarettes are novel tobacco products that are frequently used these days. The cartridge contains liquid nicotine and accidental poisoning, even with a small oral dose, endangers children. We present here a mortality case of a 15-month-old child who ingested liquid nicotine mistaking it for cold medicine. When the emergency medical technicians arrived, she was found to have pulseless electrical activity. Spontaneous circulation was restored after approximately 40 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The cotinine level in her urine was 1,716 ng/mL. Despite intensive supportive care, severe anoxic brain injury was found on computed tomography and the child ultimately died. This fatality highlights the need for public health efforts to minimize such accidents.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.355-360
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• 2018

Recently, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been attracting attention as a possible medical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). A randomized controlled trial of FMT for children with UC is currently underway. Therapeutic effects of FMT for adults with UC remain controversial. We report two cases of early-onset UC in children. A patient was diagnosed with UC at age 1-year 9-month and underwent FMT at age 2-year 3-month. He attained clinical remission for three weeks after FMT, but then relapsed at four weeks, ultimately undergoing a total colectomy. Another child was diagnosed with UC at 2-year 10-month and she underwent FMT at age 5 years. She has remained in clinical remission following FMT for 24 months and her UC has been maintained without complications with tacrolimus and azathioprine. We report that FMT for early-onset UC appears to be safe and potentially effective.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.178-185
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• 2014

Purpose: Blood culture is the most important tool for detecting bacteremia in children with fever. However, blood culture contamination rates range from 0.6% to 6.0% in adults; rates for young children have been considered higher than these, although data are limited, especially in Korea. This study determined the contamination rate and risk factors in pediatric patients visiting the emergency room (ER) or being admitted to the ward. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of blood cultures obtained from children who visited Yonsei Severance Hospital, Korea between 2006 and 2010. Positive blood cultures were labeled as true bacteremia or contamination according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network definitions for laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection, after exclusion of cultures drawn from preexisting central lines only. Results: Among 40,542 blood cultures, 610 were positive, of which 479 were contaminations and 131 were true bacteremia (overall contamination rate, 1.18%). The contamination rate in the ER was significantly higher than in the ward (1.32% vs. 0.66%, P<0.001). The rate was higher in younger children (2.07%, 0.94%, and 0.61% in children aged <1 year, 1-6 years, and >6 years, respectively). Conclusion: Overall, contamination rates were higher in younger children than in older children, given the difficulty of performing blood sampling in younger children. The contamination rates from the ER were higher than those from the ward, not accounted for only by overcrowding and lack of experience among personnel collecting samples. Further study to investigate other factors affecting contamination should be required.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.232-234
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• 2007

We describe the extrusion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter from the anus after double perforation of the large bowel in a 3-year-old girl with hydrocephalus. She was admitted because the tip of the peritoneal catheter protruded 10 cm from the anus and clear cerebrospinal fluid dripped from the tip. Emergency laparotomy was performed. The distal peritoneal catheter perforated and penetrated the sigmoid colon and re-perforated into the rectal cavity. The distal peritoneal catheter was removed, the proximal catheter was exposed for external drainage, and intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics were administered for 2 weeks. After control of infection, the shunt system was completely removed. Bowel perforation by a peritoneal catheter is a rare complication. Diagnosis is often difficult, delayed, and its incidence is likely underestimated. Most bowel perforation is the result of infection as opposed to technical errors.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2008

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the neonatal population. The aim of this study is to evaluate surgical indication and prognostic factors of NEC. Clinical data of seventy patients, diagnosed as NEC between January 2000 & January 2007, were reviewed retrospectively. Fifty-seven patients had medical treatment and 7 of them died. Thirteen patients who presented with pneumoperitoneum on plain abdominal film or were refractory to medical treatment received surgical treatment, and 5 of them died. All the expired 12 patients weighed less than 2500 g. Twenty out of seventy patients showed thrombocytopenia, and 11 patients of them died. The finding of pneumoperitoneum and thrombocytopenia could be the most important surgical indication. Prematurity, low birth weight and thrombocytopenia were related to a bad prognosis. NEC patients who presents with these findings must be considered for close observation and intensive care.