Spontaneous descent of testes after birth can occur in up to 70% of cases, yet the factors contributing to it are still controversial. This study aims to evaluate factors contributing to spontaneous descent of palpable undescended testes. Eighty-four newborns with 126 palpable undescended testes (42 unilateral and 42 bilateral) were followed up for a period of one year to study the occurrence and time of testicular descent and its relation to gestational age, birth weight, uni- or bilaterality and levels of FSH, LH and testosterone. A total of 58 testes (46%) descended between 3 and 6 months. Spontaneous descent occurred in 10 premature patients (14 testes 63%) compared to 44 testes of full-term patients (43%). Descent occurred in 14 unilateral undescended testes (33%) compared to 44 (52%) in bilateral cases. In patients with spontaneous testicular descent there was postnatal peak of LH and testosterone at 2 to 3 months of age which returned to basal level at 6 months of age. In patients with permanent undescended testes the peak of LH and testosterone was very low and almost absent in some of them; no significant difference was found between the mean values of FSH in both groups. No spontaneous testicular descent occurred after the 4th month in the full-term group, whereas in the pre-term group spontaneous descent occurred up to 6 months of age. This study concluded that spontaneous descent of palpable undescended testes is closely related to the presence of LH and testosterone surge. Therapy of undescended testes should start at 4 months of age in a full-term baby and at 6 months of age in a pre-term baby.
Aim of the study. Various surgical procedures have been advocated for replacement of the scarred oesophagus in children. We report here on our experience of oesophago-coloplasty. Methods. Over a 10-year period, 100 children (62 boys, 38 girls) with intractable caustic stricture of the oesophagus underwent transhiatal oesophagectomy and left colonic interposition. Their age at the time of reconstruction ranged from 14 months to 8 years (mean 3.4 years). Results. The patients were followed up post reconstruction for a period ranging from 5 to 15 years. There were 3 deaths from respiratory failure. Stricture of the cervical oesophagocolic anastomosis occurred in 6 patients and needed repeated dilatations (in 2 patients) and surgical revision (in 4 patients). Mild redundancy of the colonic substitute in the chest was noted in five cases, but in no case there was dysphagia necessitating revision of the colonic transplant. Peptic ulcer or symptomatic gastric-colic reflux was not seen in this group of patients. All of our patients are able to swallow and eat a normal unrestricted diet, they are gaining weight and enjoying a normal life pattern. Conclusion. We conclude that isoperistaltic left colon, based on both the ascending and descending branches of the left colic vessels with simultaneous oesophagectomy utilising the transhiatal approach, is the best substitute for a scarred oesophagus in children with satisfactory long-term functional results.
Hereditary multiple intestinal atresia (HMIA), a presumed autosomal recessive disorder, is an unusual and rare form of recurrent intestinal atresia which can be associated with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). The combination of HMIA and SCID is invariably lethal. The authors describe this fatal association in two siblings. The parents are consanguineous and have three other normal healthy children. Both index cases had abnormal antenatal ultrasounds and were symptomatic after birth. The final diagnosis of HMIA with SCID was confirmed in both siblings. They were never able to receive enteral feeds, remained totally dependent on parenteral nutrition, had repeated episodes of sepsis and died after a very difficult neonatal intensive care course. In this article we have reviewed the clinical course and outcome of both cases. The existing literature on multiple intestinal atresia, HMIA and HMIA with immunodeficiency is also reviewed.
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