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Children with ADHD have significantly higher rates of incontinence, constipation, urgency, infrequent voiding, nocturnal enuresis and dysuria than those without ADHD. Further study is needed to discern the cause of this difference and develop appropriate treatment strategies.

While intestinal cystoplasty remains the standard, several alternative techniques show promise. At present only gastrocystoplasty, ureterocystoplasty and seromuscular augmentation should be considered clinically useful.

Objective To retrospectively assess the results of tubularized incised plate (Snodgrass) urethroplasty in a series of re-operative hypospadias repairs in children. Patients and methods The study comprised a follow-up (from 1996 until 2000) of 13 patients (mean age 7.5 years, range 13 months to 27 years) who had at least one previous hypospadias repair and who then underwent a reconstruction using the Snodgrass repair. In all cases the urethroplasty was covered with an additional layer of subcutaneous tissue. The original location, associated complications and results were recorded. In some cases, the long-term follow up was conducted by telephone. Results Associated complications before the Snodgrass repair included urethral stricture in two, fistula in three and persistent chordee in one patient. The mean (range) follow-up was 22 (9-34) months. The cosmetic results were excellent, with two complications (one patient with a glans dehiscence and a urethrocutaneous fistula, and a second with meatal stenosis). The remaining patients required no further procedures and were voiding normally at the last follow-up. Conclusion Excellent cosmetic and functional results can be obtained using the Snodgrass incised plate urethroplasty for re-operative hypospadias repair. Only one patient in this series had an initial operation in which the urethral plate was previously incised. Therefore, caution should be used when considering an incised plate urethroplasty in these patients.

Stricture disease continues to be a significant complication of hypospadias reconstruction. Initial therapy should be urethral dilation but it should be recognized that the majority of these patients will ultimately require open urethroplasty.

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Objective To retrospectively assess the use of a retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach for simple nephrectomy and adrenalectomy in children. Patients and methods All retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal and adrenal procedures carried out in children and completed between 1993 and March 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Analgesic requirements, hospital stay, complications and blood loss were reviewed. The technique is described in detail. Results Forty-eight retroperitoneal laparoscopic procedures were completed in 48 patients (mean age 5.5 years, range 0.5-16). The procedures included nephrectomy (22), nephroureterectomy (15), renal biopsy (six), cyst ablation (two) and simple adrenalectomy (three). In all, 11 procedures were undertaken in children aged <2 years. Forty-one (91%) of the children undergoing renal procedures were discharged in <24 h. Two patients underwent three adrenalectomies. Two children required conversion to open surgery, one undergoing a right-sided adrenalectomy and one a nephrectomy. The mean operative duration for nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy was 75 min, and for adrenalectomy was 115 min. Conclusion Renal and adrenal surgery in children is a safe and rapid procedure with retroperitoneal laparoscopy. The operative duration for nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy are frequently <1 h. In addition, laparoscopic surgery offers significant advantages in terms of cosmesis and a quicker recovery.

Introduction: Optical magnification is an essential tool in the practice of pediatric surgery. Magnifying loupes are the most frequently used instrument, although their use often comes at the expense of neck pain experienced by the operating surgeon. Recent advances have led to the development of a compact video microscope (VITOM Ò ; Karl Storz Endoscopy GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany) that displays high-definition magnified images on a flat screen. This study was designed to evaluate VITOM as a potential substitute for loupes in complex open pediatric procedures and to explore VITOM as an effective intraoperative teaching modality for open surgery. Subjects and Methods: Three surgeons used the VITOM II exoscope in 20 operations: 14 hypospadias repairs, 2 inguinal hernia repairs, 1 sacrococcygeal teratoma resection, 1 recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula repair, and 2 additional procedures. Surgeons, trainees, and surgical technicians subjectively evaluated image quality; surgeons evaluated handling of VITOM, degree of neck strain, and fatigue. Three midlevel surgical trainees assessed the VITOM potential for teaching value. Overall impressions of each group and consensus opinions were generated. Results: All procedures were completed without complication. The consensus opinion of the entire group was that image quality was excellent. The surgeons found VITOM easy to use, and all agreed that neck strain and fatigue were reduced. Surgical trainees felt that VITOM imaging aided in their understanding of procedures and anatomy. Surgical technicians perceived improved operation flow through better visualization of the procedure. Conclusions: VITOM provides excellent visualization of pediatric operations with improved surgeon comfort and may serve as a substitute for loupes. Secondarily, we found enhanced trainee learning and potential improvement in the flow of surgical procedures. Further study of VITOM with a larger sample size and validated tools is needed.