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Aims:To evaluate the outcome of the operated children of esophageal atresia (EA) focusing on their early and late morbidity and mortality and quality of life (QoL) of survivors.Settings and Design:A cross-sectional follow-up with retrospective analysis of available medical and surgical records of children who underwent repair for EA.Materials and Methods:The medical records of the children who underwent repair for EA during the period from 2000 to 2011 at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, were collected retrospectively. Patients with parents were invited to visit the hospital for follow-up and nutritional status, digestive and respiratory symptoms, status of associated anomalies and QoL assessment of children done. QoL assessment was done using the PedsQL™ 4.0 generic core scales questionnaire comprising 4 scale scores: physical, emotional, social functioning, and school functioning. Mean scores are calculated based on a 5-point response scale for each item and transformed to a 0-100 scale with a higher score representing better QoL.Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.Results:Of 79 patients operated during the said period, there were 10 deaths and a total of 69 (87%) children survived. Of the 66 patients available for follow-up, we interviewed 30 parents and children while for the remaining 36 children, out-patients charts were reviewed retrospectively. Mean follow-up duration was 3.56 years. The height and weight for age measurement showed 47% and 56% of children respectively as below the 5th percentile. Main problems faced by operated EA children were of the respiratory (26%) and gastroesophageal (36%) tracts. In spite of the mentioned problems faced, the overall QoL of this group appeared good. In 23 of 30 patients, who answered PedsQL™, more than 70% had scores >85 out of 100 in QoL scoring.Conclusions:While survivals of the children born with EA have improved, these children still face nutritional, respiratory, and gastroesophageal problems during their early childhood. In spite of this, the overall QoL of this patient group appears good.

Rupture of the diaphragm may be traumatic or spontaneous. A spontaneous rupture occurring in a congenital eventration of the diaphragm is extremely rare. Only one such case has been reported previously. We report a case of a 5-month-old male infant who presented with acute life-threatening respiratory distress secondary to spontaneous rupture of a congenital diaphragmatic eventration.

BackgroundNewborns have limited specific immune capability at birth, owing to delayed and constrained development of adaptive immunity. To supplement this period the mother passively transfers antibodies to the child either transplacentally or through breast milk. When maternal alloimmunisation occurs through foreign or fetal red cell surface antigens, stimulating the production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, these IgG antibodies can cross the placenta and cause haemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn.ObjectiveWe present two case reports of a neonate and an infant in whom IgG red cell alloantibodies were transferred through maternal breast milk.MethodsMaternal serum, baby's serum and expressed breast milk samples were tested for the presence of red cell alloantibodies using gel card. Antibody screening, antibody identifications and titres alongside monospecific direct antiglobulin test, IgG subtypes were performed using the standard methods.ResultsIn the first case, a 6‐month‐old child was incidentally found to have positive antibody screen. Anti‐KELL1 was identified, which was also present in maternal serum and breast milk. The second neonate was evaluated for haemolysis and was found to have anti‐D. Anti‐D was also detected in the maternal serum and breast milk. Both babies did not have any sensitising events. The first baby was asymptomatic, but the second baby had ongoing haemolysis until 1 month.ConclusionWe report that maternal anti‐KELL1 and anti‐D antibodies were present in breast milk and were capable of being transferred to a feeding child. Our case report also raises interesting and unanswered immunologic fundamentals that should be considered in neonates with unexplained anaemia or delayed and persistent haemolysis.

SUMMARYWe report an extremely rare case of isolated retroperitoneal enteric duplication cyst with gastric mucosa causing haematuria and dysuria by communicating with the urinary system. A 9-month-old male child was admitted to our hospital with persistent haematuria, dysuria and anaemia. Investigations revealed a retroperitoneal cyst abutting the hydronephrotic nonfunctioning right kidney. At surgery an isolated retroperitoneal cyst communicating with the right pelviureteric junction was found. The kidney and associated cyst were excised. Histology of the cystic lesion revealed an enteric duplication cyst lined by ectopic gastric mucosa. Isolated retroperitoneal enteric duplication cyst communicating with the urinary tract has not been previously reported in the English literature. We propose that acid secretion into the right renal system was the cause of the haematuria-dysuria syndrome which promptly resolved postoperatively. BACKGROUND