Four children developed lipoid pneumonia following ingestion of mineral oil for the treatment of partial small bowel obstruction by Ascaris lumbricoides whorl. CT of the chest showed negative Hounsfield numbers which may prove useful in diagnosis.

GBWT, ascites and pleural effusion are transient findings in DF. The authors have described a typical reticular pattern of GBWT that can be used to diagnose and follow up on patients with severe DF and should not be considered an acalculous cholecystitis.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) became the gold standard for enteral feeding. Currently, surgical gastrostomy is seldom used.Objective: Evaluating the role of surgical gastrostomy in a center with a large experience in PEG.Methods: A retrospective study ranged 13 years, collecting from clinical records: age, gender, underlying disease, date of procedure, technique, primary surgery, complications, 30-day mortality. Patients were divided according to indication for gastrostomy: a) neurological; b) head and neck cancer; c) other diseases; and d) drainage. PEG, open surgical and laparoscopic gastrostomies were compared concerning evolution of the number of procedures, characteristics of patients, complications and mortality.Results: We identified 509 PEG, 26 open and 8 laparoscopic surgical gastrostomies. An increasing number of the percutaneous approach over the years was observed, while the number of surgical gastrostomies remains steady (mean: 2.6/year). All percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies but three were feeding procedures, mostly in neurological patients. All laparoscopic gastrostomies were feeding procedures in head and neck cancer. Most open surgical gastrostomies were secondary procedures, part of more complex surgeries, and frequently for drainage purposes. The open surgical approach displayed more morbidity and mortality, reflecting the severity of underlying diseases.Conclusions: In our institution, open surgical gastrostomy is seldom used, and mostly as part of complex procedures, frequently for drainage purposes. PEG is the choice to most dysphagic patients needing an enteral feeding access. When not feasible, laparoscopic gastrostomy is a suitable alternative.

Objective: To describe the clinical, hematological and radiographic characteristics of children hospitalized for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Method: The study population consisted of 190 children between 3 months and 16 years old, hospitalized for radiographically confirmed pneumonia. Patients were divided into two groups, to wit: 95 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, as diagnosed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method; and 95 children with pneumonia caused by other etiologic agents. Using a validated scoring system, the clinical, hematological and radiographic findings of both groups were compared to differentiate Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (group 1) from pneumonia caused by other etiologic agents (group 2), itself divided into two groups, bacterial (n = 75) and viral (n = 20). Results: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was found most often in girls (p < 0.01), older children (p < 0.01), and patients with dry cough (p < 0.01) and extrapulmonary manifestations (p < 0.01). The clinical, hematological and radiographic variables of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (mean score = 6.95) scored between those found in bacterial (mean score = 8.27) and viral pneumonia (mean score = 0.90). Conclusion: Results suggest that the scoring system can contribute to the presumptive diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and help differentiate pneumonic status caused by other etiologic agents.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Anastomotic leak (AL) is a dangerous complication in the early postoperative period after total gastrectomy or esophagectomy being associated with high mortality. Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) play a significant role in AL management. Only one case report described the use of Mega-Stent in AL setting. The authors report a two-case series with different applications of a Niti-S esophageal Mega-Stent in AL management. <b><i>Case Report:</i></b> Case 1 is a 67-year-old male who underwent an esophagectomy due to a squamous cell carcinoma of the distal esophagus. The early postoperative period was complicated with AL and gastropleural fistula. Initially, an OTSC was deployed in the dehiscence but failed to resolve AL. The esophageal Mega-Stent was further placed in-between the esophagus and the bulbus. Post-stenting contrast studies confirmed no further AL.Case 2 is an 86-year-old woman who underwent total gastrectomy with roux-en-y esophagojejunostomy due to a gastric adenocarcinoma, complicated with AL. A partially covered metal stent (PCMS) was placed to cover the anastomosis. Computed tomography confirmed leakage persistence and a second PCMS was deployed, resolving the AL. Several weeks later, both PCMSs presented ingrowth from granulation tissue. An esophageal Mega-Stent was placed (stent-in-stent technique) and 2 weeks later, all stents were removed, with no AL recurrence. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> SEMS placement for AL is a safe, well-established therapeutic technique. Limitations include stent migration and incomplete cover of large AL. Mega-Stent can be an emerging tool for endoscopic AL management.