Daniel von Allmen

1137 timestamped statements across 23 collections — auto-found in recorded discussions, each timestamp jumps to the exact moment.

Adrenal Tumors · guest expert Aerodigestive / ENT · guest expert Biliary Atresia · guest expert Colorectal / ARM & Hirschsprung · guest expert Etiologies (Gastroschisis/NEC/Atresia/Volvulus) · guest expert Fetal Surgery · guest expert Intestinal Failure · guest expert Intestinal Rehab · guest expert Intestinal Transplant · guest expert Neuroblastoma · guest expert Soft Tissue Sarcoma (lymph nodes) · guest expert Wilms Tumor · guest expert

Featured diaries

Ep 8 · 41:19
I think that first of all I would make the comment that that's a great point and it's interesting to participate in the International oesophageal atresia. A meeting that occurs every 2 years and to go and see the patients because that meeting is multidisciplinary, including even patients, and you see these patients who come back who are in their 20s or 30s or 40s and they talk about the long term issues that they have and we tend to follow patients until they're, you know, until they're eating well and then they're gone
Ep 6 · 41:19
I think that first of all I would make the comment that that's a great point and it's interesting to participate in the International oesophageal atresia. A meeting that occurs every 2 years and to go and see the patients because that meeting is multidisciplinary, including even patients, and you see these patients who come back who are in their 20s or 30s or 40s and they talk about the long term issues that they have and we tend to follow patients until they're, you know, until they're eating well and then they're gone
Ep 8 · 42:45
If I have a patient who has a stricture that's been dilated 2 or 3 times, my next move would be to address reflux. Most of the patients we leave on anti-reflux medications when they are discharged from the hospital. I would argue that virtually all patients have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux. If they have a stricture that is not responsive to dilations, it dilates easily and then restrictures. I personally am very aggressive about doing a fundoplication on those patients
Ep 6 · 42:45
If I have a patient who has a stricture that's been dilated 2 or 3 times, my next move would be to address reflux. Most of the patients we leave on anti-reflux medications when they are discharged from the hospital. I would argue that virtually all patients have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux. If they have a stricture that is not responsive to dilations, it dilates easily and then restrictures. I personally am very aggressive about doing a fundoplication on those patients
Ep 18 · 9:03
You can get extraordinary length on this. And Mike and I have done a few cases for kids who had disasters, multiple operations elsewhere, who had caustic injuries that were involved all the way up to the pharynx, where we had to do a lot of work just on the pharynx to get that open, and then literally sew the colon interposition to the pharynx and then down to the stomach, which is obviously tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
quote · Fetal Surgery
Ep 18 · 9:03
You can get extraordinary length on this. And Mike and I have done a few cases for kids who had disasters, multiple operations elsewhere, who had caustic injuries that were involved all the way up to the pharynx, where we had to do a lot of work just on the pharynx to get that open, and then literally sew the colon interposition to the pharynx and then down to the stomach, which is obviously tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
quote · Fetal Surgery

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Adrenal Tumors 59 entries

Topics in 10: Neuroblastoma

Ep 1 · 0:41
clinical In younger patients, neuroblastoma is often picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids (two-year-old or three-year-old) as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 1 · 0:41
clinical When neuroblastoma patients have metastatic disease, they may present with either bony pain or potentially neurologic symptoms from cord compression.
Ep 1 · 0:41
quote So in the younger patients, they're oftentimes picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids, say two-year-old or three-year-old, it might be picked up as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 1 · 1:07
clinical When considering neuroblastoma as part of the differential diagnosis, it is important to get catecholamines (either urine or serum) as one of the most diagnostic laboratory tests for this tumor.
Ep 1 · 1:39
clinical If imaging suggests neuroblastoma (central abdominal mass or adrenal mass rather than kidney mass), the next test would be a nuclear medicine study, typically an MIBG study.
Ep 1 · 1:39
clinical The MIBG study is helpful for confirming the diagnosis of neuroblastoma and can also demonstrate metastatic disease.
Ep 1 · 1:39
clinical Most children with suspected neuroblastoma would get a cross-sectional imaging study, either a CT scan or an MRI.
Ep 1 · 2:20
clinical About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 1 · 2:20
quote About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 1 · 2:20
clinical Some centers, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, would get a PET scan looking for tumor uptake as well as potential metastatic disease.
Ep 1 · 2:45
guideline Based on the most recent iteration of the neuroblastoma staging system (INRGSS), it is possible to assign a stage before any invasive procedure is performed.
Ep 1 · 2:45
guideline There is a special category MS for children less than 18 months of age who have metastases to either the bone marrow or the skin.
Ep 1 · 2:45
guideline In the INRGSS system, tumors that are localized are categorized as L1; if localized but have image-defined risk factors (encasing nerves or vessels), they are L2; if they have metastatic disease, they are M.
Ep 1 · 3:36
guideline The prior neuroblastoma staging system required tissue diagnosis before assigning a stage.
Ep 1 · 3:36
guideline The INRGSS pre-biopsy staging system was specifically created to allow studies from different centers in different countries to be compared based on the pre-surgical staging of the patient.
Ep 1 · 4:06
clinical A child with an adrenal mass on the right side and a positive MIBG scan but no evidence of metastases could potentially be treated with a primary resection of the mass via laparotomy.
Ep 1 · 4:06
opinion Some surgeons would approach resection of a localized neuroblastoma with laparoscopy depending on the size of the tumor.
Ep 1 · 4:44
clinical For very large masses that encase the aorta, cava, or other major vasculature, all you really want is tissue for diagnosis, which can be obtained through open biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, or core needle biopsies done by an interventional radiologist.
Ep 1 · 5:14
clinical In addition to NMIC status, you want to look for 1P and 11Q deletions and Shimada histology in neuroblastoma biopsy tissue.
Ep 1 · 5:14
clinical The most important biologic risk determinant to obtain from neuroblastoma biopsy tissue is the NMIC status.
Ep 1 · 5:45
epidemiological Neuroblastoma risk is divided about 50-50 between the low risk categories and the high risk category, with a smaller percentage being intermediate risk.
Ep 1 · 5:45
clinical Biologic risk determinants from biopsy will tell you what risk category the patient falls into: very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk.
Ep 1 · 6:11
clinical Patients with high risk neuroblastoma receive aggressive chemotherapy including peripheral stem cell transplant times 2, aggressive surgery with the goal of greater than 90% resection of the tumor, followed by radiation, immunotherapy after chemotherapy, and potentially retinoic acid therapy.
Ep 1 · 6:11
clinical NMIC amplification and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 1 · 6:11
quote NMIC and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 1 · 6:51
clinical For intermediate risk neuroblastoma, the goal at the time of debulking or resecting the primary tumor is to achieve at least a 50% response from the initial volume of the primary tumor through the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.
Ep 1 · 6:51
clinical Intermediate risk neuroblastoma tumors get varying cycles of chemotherapy based on the biologic risk factors they have.
Ep 1 · 7:22
clinical The low risk neuroblastoma group, depending on the actual age of the patient and how it is diagnosed, could potentially be followed simply with observation.
Ep 1 · 7:22
clinical Jed Nocturne led a study through the Children's Oncology Group looking at patients less than six months of age with either a prenatally diagnosed or shortly postnatally diagnosed localized mass, showing these patients can be observed with the expectation that the vast majority will avoid any type of surgical procedure.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical In patients with MS disease, simple observation can be the treatment path.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical Patients with metastatic neuroblastoma typically receive four or five cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then are reassessed.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical If the tumor and metastatic disease are responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, one would attack the primary tumor site with a resection, with many advocating for attempting a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical If the metastatic disease is progressing on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then surgery is not indicated.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow (specifically not bone, not cortical bone) and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 1 · 7:55
quote MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow, specifically not bone, not cortical bone, and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical If MS disease patients progress or develop respiratory issues because of an enlarging liver mass, treatment might be elected because of the complication of the size of the tumor, but the tumor itself usually does not have to be treated.
Ep 1 · 8:55
clinical You can biopsy the skin lesions in MS disease and that will give you the diagnosis.

Neuroblastoma

Ep 2 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 2 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 2 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 2 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 2 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 2 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 2 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 2 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 2 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 2 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 2 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 2 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 2 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 2 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 2 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 2 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 2 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 2 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 2 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings
Ep 2 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 2 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 2 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings
Aerodigestive / ENT 12 entries

Aerodigestive & Esophageal Surgery - Difficult Tracheal Esophageal Fistula

Ep 2 · 9:58
clinical If a patient is aspirating from above (oropharyngeal or esophageal source), an anti-reflux procedure does not help and may make them worse.
Ep 2 · 9:58
clinical If a patient is aspirating from above (oropharyngeal or esophageal source), an anti-reflux procedure does not help and may make them worse.
Ep 2 · 14:02
clinical Routine bronchoscopy is now standard practice for all type C TEF repairs at Cincinnati Children's, often done in collaboration with ENT colleagues.
Ep 2 · 14:02
clinical Routine bronchoscopy is now standard practice for all type C TEF repairs at Cincinnati Children's, often done in collaboration with ENT colleagues.
Ep 2 · 19:37
clinical Dual scoping (simultaneous bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy) allows scopes to 'shake hands' across a fistula, light transillumination through tissue, and injection of saline or air to reveal subtle openings.
Ep 2 · 19:37
clinical Dual scoping (simultaneous bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy) allows scopes to 'shake hands' across a fistula, light transillumination through tissue, and injection of saline or air to reveal subtle openings.
Ep 2 · 55:54
quote Button batteries are bad.
Ep 2 · 55:54
quote Button batteries are bad.
Ep 2 · 56:27
quote The tissue damage extends beyond what you can appreciate with the naked eye, and the progression of it probably extends beyond what you would think is the normal time frame.
Ep 2 · 56:27
quote The tissue damage extends beyond what you can appreciate with the naked eye, and the progression of it probably extends beyond what you would think is the normal time frame.
Ep 2 · 1:52:36
clinical In a patient with multiple bronchoesophageal fistulas and chronic bronchiectasis, lobectomy with resection of the esophageal pseudo-diverticulum can be performed safely; the esophagus can be primarily closed if not strictured.
Ep 2 · 1:52:36
clinical In a patient with multiple bronchoesophageal fistulas and chronic bronchiectasis, lobectomy with resection of the esophageal pseudo-diverticulum can be performed safely; the esophagus can be primarily closed if not strictured.
Appendicitis 26 entries

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 3 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 3 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 3 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 3 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 3 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 3 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 3 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 3 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 3 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 3 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 3 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 3 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 3 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 6 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 6 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 6 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 6 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 6 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 6 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 6 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 6 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 6 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 6 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 6 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 6 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 6 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.
Biliary Atresia 26 entries

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 6 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 6 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 6 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 6 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 6 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 6 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 6 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 6 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 6 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 6 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 6 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 6 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 6 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 10 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 10 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 10 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 10 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 10 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 10 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 10 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 10 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 10 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 10 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 10 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 10 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 10 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.
CHARGE Syndrome 12 entries

Aerodigestive & Esophageal Surgery - Difficult Tracheal Esophageal Fistula

Ep 1 · 9:58
clinical If a patient is aspirating from above (oropharyngeal or esophageal source), an anti-reflux procedure does not help and may make them worse.
Ep 1 · 9:58
clinical If a patient is aspirating from above (oropharyngeal or esophageal source), an anti-reflux procedure does not help and may make them worse.
Ep 1 · 14:02
clinical Routine bronchoscopy is now standard practice for all type C TEF repairs at Cincinnati Children's, often done in collaboration with ENT colleagues.
Ep 1 · 14:02
clinical Routine bronchoscopy is now standard practice for all type C TEF repairs at Cincinnati Children's, often done in collaboration with ENT colleagues.
Ep 1 · 19:37
clinical Dual scoping (simultaneous bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy) allows scopes to 'shake hands' across a fistula, light transillumination through tissue, and injection of saline or air to reveal subtle openings.
Ep 1 · 19:37
clinical Dual scoping (simultaneous bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy) allows scopes to 'shake hands' across a fistula, light transillumination through tissue, and injection of saline or air to reveal subtle openings.
Ep 1 · 55:54
quote Button batteries are bad.
Ep 1 · 55:54
quote Button batteries are bad.
Ep 1 · 56:27
quote The tissue damage extends beyond what you can appreciate with the naked eye, and the progression of it probably extends beyond what you would think is the normal time frame.
Ep 1 · 56:27
quote The tissue damage extends beyond what you can appreciate with the naked eye, and the progression of it probably extends beyond what you would think is the normal time frame.
Ep 1 · 1:52:36
clinical In a patient with multiple bronchoesophageal fistulas and chronic bronchiectasis, lobectomy with resection of the esophageal pseudo-diverticulum can be performed safely; the esophagus can be primarily closed if not strictured.
Ep 1 · 1:52:36
clinical In a patient with multiple bronchoesophageal fistulas and chronic bronchiectasis, lobectomy with resection of the esophageal pseudo-diverticulum can be performed safely; the esophagus can be primarily closed if not strictured.

Neuroblastoma

Ep 74 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 74 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 74 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 74 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 74 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 74 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 74 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 74 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 74 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 74 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 74 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 74 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 74 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 74 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 74 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 74 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 74 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 74 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 74 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 74 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 74 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings
Ep 74 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 76 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 76 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 76 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 76 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 76 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 76 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 76 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 76 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 76 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 76 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 76 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 76 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 76 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.

Complications and Beyond

Ep 22 · 6:34
clinical Baseline chest X-ray may be useful if patient later presents with respiratory symptoms and consolidation, providing comparison
Ep 22 · 6:34
clinical Baseline chest X-ray may be useful if patient later presents with respiratory symptoms and consolidation, providing comparison
Ep 22 · 25:54
clinical If crura come together easily during paraesophageal hernia repair, primary closure without mesh is preferred
Ep 22 · 25:54
clinical If crura come together easily during paraesophageal hernia repair, primary closure without mesh is preferred
Ep 22 · 29:25
clinical Posterior defect is the usual problem site in paraesophageal hernia; mesh should cover the posterior repair
Ep 22 · 29:25
clinical Posterior defect is the usual problem site in paraesophageal hernia; mesh should cover the posterior repair
Ep 22 · 33:35
clinical Waiting only 3-4 weeks for revision risks operating during maximal inflammation period
Ep 22 · 33:35
clinical Waiting only 3-4 weeks for revision risks operating during maximal inflammation period
Ep 22 · 44:09
quote I hate this operation, whether it's open or laparoscopic, because you're trying to do a mechanical fix to a physiologic problem, and it's uh miserable.
Ep 22 · 44:09
opinion Fundoplication attempts mechanical fix for physiologic problem, making it inherently difficult operation
Ep 22 · 44:09
opinion Fundoplication attempts mechanical fix for physiologic problem, making it inherently difficult operation
Ep 22 · 44:09
quote I hate this operation, whether it's open or laparoscopic, because you're trying to do a mechanical fix to a physiologic problem, and it's uh miserable.
Ep 22 · 45:22
clinical Gastric disconnect is excellent operation in cognitively impaired patients who don't eat much and have refractory reflux or multiple failed fundoplications
Ep 22 · 45:22
clinical Gastric disconnect is excellent operation in cognitively impaired patients who don't eat much and have refractory reflux or multiple failed fundoplications
Ep 22 · 49:43
clinical Dextrocardia makes thoracoscopic visualization challenging for EA/TEF repair
Ep 22 · 49:43
clinical Dextrocardia makes thoracoscopic visualization challenging for EA/TEF repair
Ep 22 · 49:56
clinical For unstable EA/TEF patient, laparotomy with G-tube and vessel loop around GE junction allows fistula control and ventilation, deferring thoracic repair until patient stabilizes
Ep 22 · 49:56
clinical For unstable EA/TEF patient, laparotomy with G-tube and vessel loop around GE junction allows fistula control and ventilation, deferring thoracic repair until patient stabilizes
Ep 22 · 54:34
clinical Bronchoscopy should be performed in all EA/TEF cases to identify additional fistulas
Ep 22 · 54:34
clinical Bronchoscopy should be performed in all EA/TEF cases to identify additional fistulas
Ep 22 · 58:19
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung can be performed via median sternotomy: divide trachea, repair esophagus posteriorly, reconstruct trachea and fish-mouth abnormal bronchus to create lung connection
Ep 22 · 58:19
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung can be performed via median sternotomy: divide trachea, repair esophagus posteriorly, reconstruct trachea and fish-mouth abnormal bronchus to create lung connection
Ep 22 · 59:03
clinical If initial TEF ligation is performed too far from trachea (2cm), significant esophageal length is lost, potentially preventing primary anastomosis
Ep 22 · 59:03
clinical If initial TEF ligation is performed too far from trachea (2cm), significant esophageal length is lost, potentially preventing primary anastomosis
Ep 22 · 59:24
clinical Magnet anastomosis can be attempted when esophageal ends are tacked together but gap prevents primary anastomosis
Ep 22 · 59:24
clinical Magnet anastomosis can be attempted when esophageal ends are tacked together but gap prevents primary anastomosis
Ep 22 · 59:43
quote It'll be great if it works.
Ep 22 · 59:43
quote It'll be great if it works.
Ep 22 · 1:01:43
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung is performed on cardiopulmonary bypass
Ep 22 · 1:01:43
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung is performed on cardiopulmonary bypass

Complications and Beyond

Ep 17 · 6:34
clinical Baseline chest X-ray may be useful if patient later presents with respiratory symptoms and consolidation, providing comparison
Ep 17 · 25:54
clinical If crura come together easily during paraesophageal hernia repair, primary closure without mesh is preferred
Ep 17 · 29:25
clinical Posterior defect is the usual problem site in paraesophageal hernia; mesh should cover the posterior repair
Ep 17 · 33:35
clinical Waiting only 3-4 weeks for revision risks operating during maximal inflammation period
Ep 17 · 44:09
quote I hate this operation, whether it's open or laparoscopic, because you're trying to do a mechanical fix to a physiologic problem, and it's uh miserable.
Ep 17 · 44:09
opinion Fundoplication attempts mechanical fix for physiologic problem, making it inherently difficult operation
Ep 17 · 45:22
clinical Gastric disconnect is excellent operation in cognitively impaired patients who don't eat much and have refractory reflux or multiple failed fundoplications
Ep 17 · 49:43
clinical Dextrocardia makes thoracoscopic visualization challenging for EA/TEF repair
Ep 17 · 49:56
clinical For unstable EA/TEF patient, laparotomy with G-tube and vessel loop around GE junction allows fistula control and ventilation, deferring thoracic repair until patient stabilizes
Ep 17 · 54:34
clinical Bronchoscopy should be performed in all EA/TEF cases to identify additional fistulas
Ep 17 · 58:19
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung can be performed via median sternotomy: divide trachea, repair esophagus posteriorly, reconstruct trachea and fish-mouth abnormal bronchus to create lung connection
Ep 17 · 59:03
clinical If initial TEF ligation is performed too far from trachea (2cm), significant esophageal length is lost, potentially preventing primary anastomosis
Ep 17 · 59:24
clinical Magnet anastomosis can be attempted when esophageal ends are tacked together but gap prevents primary anastomosis
Ep 17 · 59:43
quote It'll be great if it works.
Ep 17 · 1:01:43
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung is performed on cardiopulmonary bypass
Enterocolitis 46 entries

Hirschprung's Disease - Daniel von Allmen

Ep 2 · 7:00
guideline Contrast enema plus suction rectal biopsy is the standard initial workup for newborn distal bowel obstruction suspected to be Hirschsprung disease, not upper GI series.
Ep 2 · 9:00
quote the baby's first enema should be a barium enema
Ep 2 · 10:00
clinical Laparoscopic-assisted pull-through is preferred over purely transanal approach because contrast enema underestimates transition zone level in approximately 8% of cases (Manu Proctor's data).
Ep 2 · 11:00
quote You don't want to be confused by the facts
Ep 2 · 11:00
epidemiological Female patients may have higher incidence of long-segment Hirschsprung (50-50 ratio for total colonic aganglionosis in girls) compared to males.
Ep 2 · 12:00
quote I've been burned so many times by that, what looks like an obvious low transition zone and you end up just chasing it and chasing it
Ep 2 · 13:00
quote We actually published a paper of false positive contrast enemas in newborns. So there was a transition zone that looked like Hirschsprung's, and it was not Hirschprung.
Ep 2 · 13:00
guideline Tissue diagnosis is mandatory before operating for Hirschsprung disease; contrast enema alone is insufficient due to false-positive transition zones in newborns.
Ep 2 · 14:00
clinical In sick patients with enterocolitis, diversion may be necessary before obtaining tissue diagnosis if pathology results will be delayed several days.
Ep 2 · 14:00
quote there is an occasional patient who is really sick from enterocolitis and you may not wanna wait for a tissue diagnosis. It might take a couple of days to get.
Ep 2 · 18:00
quote There are two definitions for ultra short segment Hirschmann's disease that people use, and these kinds of discussions get get foiled because one person's using one definition, another person's using another one.
Ep 2 · 18:00
clinical Ultra-short segment Hirschsprung has two definitions: (1) aganglionosis less than 5cm from dentate line, or (2) absent recto-anal inhibitory reflex with normal ganglion cells (internal sphincter achalasia). The latter is not true Hirschsprung disease.
Ep 2 · 19:00
quote if there's a normal reflex. Uh-huh. Now, if they don't have a normal reflex, then, then you have to biopsy them because the, the, there can be false, false, whatever you want, I don't know, negative, positive, false absence of the of the reflex
Ep 2 · 19:00
quote it's hard for me to imagine how Doctor Pena could not believe in that. You know, why would there be a disease where there's a minimum of 5 centimeters of a ganglionosis?
Ep 2 · 19:00
clinical Manometry showing normal recto-anal inhibitory reflex rules out Hirschsprung disease in older cooperative children (age 5-6+); if reflex is absent, biopsy is still required due to false-negative manometry.
Ep 2 · 20:00
clinical Hypertrophic nerves on biopsy indicate Hirschsprung disease; they should not be present in normal anal canal biopsies even though ganglion cells are normally absent in the anal canal.
Ep 2 · 21:00
clinical The anal canal in adults is 3-4 centimeters long (versus 1cm in infants), so biopsies at 3cm in a 16-year-old may actually be sampling anal canal rather than rectum.
Ep 2 · 23:00
clinical Cecal perforation in Hirschsprung disease usually occurs with shorter-segment disease (not total colonic aganglionosis) because the cecum becomes most distended, similar to rectal cancer causing cecal perforation.
Ep 2 · 24:00
quote the cecum gets more distended and pops. So, uh, I would close the cecal perforation, bring out a loop ileostomy, and if the baby was stable enough, I would do some serial biopsies in the colon
Ep 2 · 24:00
clinical For cecal perforation from Hirschsprung: close the perforation, create loop ileostomy, and perform serial colonic biopsies if patient is stable to identify transition zone level.
Ep 2 · 26:00
quote I tend to wait longer in long segment disease because they have terrible perianal excoriation if you, if you pull them through too early.
Ep 2 · 26:00
clinical Long-segment Hirschsprung patients should wait 6-12 months after diversion before definitive pull-through to allow stoma output to thicken and prevent severe perianal excoriation.
Ep 2 · 29:00
opinion When transition zone is in the cecum or ascending colon, pulling down the cecum as a pouch leads to stasis and enterocolitis; ileal Duhamel (sacrificing the cecum) may have better outcomes.
Ep 2 · 29:00
quote my experience with, um, with a very, very short pull, pull through like using the cecum essentially have not been very good. So in general, when I'm faced with that anatomy, I just do a, treat it like total colon disease and I do an ileal duhamel.
Ep 2 · 30:00
quote when it's just the cecum, it's, it's this big bag of stuff, and, and they end up with a lot of stasis and enterocolitis.
Ep 2 · 30:00
clinical If transition zone is at hepatic flexure or beyond, preserve the colon; if only cecum is ganglionic, consider ileal Duhamel instead.
Ep 2 · 32:00
clinical Suction rectal biopsy should not be performed in children older than approximately 15-18 months due to patient cooperation issues; open rectal biopsy under general anesthesia is preferred.
Ep 2 · 33:00
quote you gotta, even though you might, the, the specimen may come out, the logistics of taking a 2 year old and, uh, holding them they can fight back. They're too old.
Ep 2 · 34:00
clinical In older children (age 3+) with severely dilated colon from Hirschsprung, primary pull-through without diversion risks anastomotic complications; leveling colostomy with resection of dilated segment is preferred.
Ep 2 · 34:00
quote We've been really leaning towards doing diversion after just to protect our anastomosis.
Ep 2 · 34:30
quote if we do this, take the, try to resect these colons transanally. The stretch that we put on the sphincter is enormous, and their, uh, continence postoperatively is definitely, definitely suffers.
Ep 2 · 35:00
quote that thing that you showed, um, is so mammothly dilated, I don't think that would close. That's why I was initially going to say, Divert, but I think that that's not going to come down no matter how long you wait.
Ep 2 · 36:00
clinical Massively dilated colon in older Hirschsprung patients may shrink after 6-8 months of diversion in younger children (age 3) but is less likely to shrink in adolescents (age 17).
Ep 2 · 36:00
quote I have had success in, uh, getting that distal bowel to, uh, shrink in size. Um-hum. With the stoma for 6 or 8 months.
Ep 2 · 36:30
quote the older the kid, the less likely that it's going to shrink down in size. But, uh, at this age OK. Uh, I think it will.
Ep 2 · 37:00
clinical Colonoscopic biopsies for Hirschsprung diagnosis in older children can be unreliable and miss the diagnosis; full-thickness rectal biopsy is more reliable.
Ep 2 · 37:00
quote patient was at a well-known institution in Ohio. And had, was seen by GI and had multiple biopsies that were normal. Those were done by colonoscopy, um, and then, so the chart read no Hirschprung's disease
Ep 2 · 38:00
clinical Initial management of Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis: IV broad-spectrum antibiotics and saline rectal irrigations. Consider diversion only if patient has peritonitis, sepsis, or SIRS.
Ep 2 · 38:00
quote just caution to watch out what type of biopsy was performed and how Hirschprung's was ruled out. It's, it's an argument for the manometry uh diagnosis because biopsies in an older child can be unreliable.
Ep 2 · 38:50
quote we actually published a, uh, that Botox decreased the number of hospitalizations for enterocolitis in, in those children. It doesn't always work, though.
Ep 2 · 38:50
quote we have a lot of kids on chronic, uh, metronidazole. And when they, you know, they can be on it for three months and then you try taking them off and they start getting symptoms again.
Ep 2 · 38:50
clinical Botox injection decreases the number of hospitalizations for enterocolitis in post-pull-through Hirschsprung patients, though it does not work in all cases.
Ep 2 · 38:50
clinical Chronic oral metronidazole is used liberally for recurrent Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis, sometimes for months; symptoms may recur when medication is stopped.
Ep 2 · 39:00
quote The incidence of enterocolitis is significantly higher in children with trisomy 21, as much as double the incidence in genetically normal kids.
Ep 2 · 39:00
epidemiological Incidence of enterocolitis is significantly higher (approximately double) in children with trisomy 21 compared to genetically normal children with Hirschsprung disease.
Ep 2 · 40:00
clinical For recurrent enterocolitis post-pull-through: perform exam under anesthesia with biopsies to rule out residual aganglionosis or distal obstruction before treating the enterocolitis itself.
Esophageal Atresia 150 entries

Aerodigestive & Esophageal Surgery - Difficult Tracheal Esophageal Fistula

Ep 6 · 9:58
clinical If a patient is aspirating from above (oropharyngeal or esophageal source), an anti-reflux procedure does not help and may make them worse.
Ep 6 · 14:02
clinical Routine bronchoscopy is now standard practice for all type C TEF repairs at Cincinnati Children's, often done in collaboration with ENT colleagues.
Ep 6 · 19:37
clinical Dual scoping (simultaneous bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy) allows scopes to 'shake hands' across a fistula, light transillumination through tissue, and injection of saline or air to reveal subtle openings.
Ep 6 · 55:54
quote Button batteries are bad.
Ep 6 · 56:27
quote The tissue damage extends beyond what you can appreciate with the naked eye, and the progression of it probably extends beyond what you would think is the normal time frame.
Ep 6 · 1:52:36
clinical In a patient with multiple bronchoesophageal fistulas and chronic bronchiectasis, lobectomy with resection of the esophageal pseudo-diverticulum can be performed safely; the esophagus can be primarily closed if not strictured.

Complications and Beyond

Ep 2 · 6:34
clinical Baseline chest X-ray may be useful if patient later presents with respiratory symptoms and consolidation, providing comparison
Ep 2 · 25:54
clinical If crura come together easily during paraesophageal hernia repair, primary closure without mesh is preferred
Ep 2 · 29:25
clinical Posterior defect is the usual problem site in paraesophageal hernia; mesh should cover the posterior repair
Ep 2 · 33:35
clinical Waiting only 3-4 weeks for revision risks operating during maximal inflammation period
Ep 2 · 44:09
quote I hate this operation, whether it's open or laparoscopic, because you're trying to do a mechanical fix to a physiologic problem, and it's uh miserable.
Ep 2 · 44:09
opinion Fundoplication attempts mechanical fix for physiologic problem, making it inherently difficult operation
Ep 2 · 45:22
clinical Gastric disconnect is excellent operation in cognitively impaired patients who don't eat much and have refractory reflux or multiple failed fundoplications
Ep 2 · 49:43
clinical Dextrocardia makes thoracoscopic visualization challenging for EA/TEF repair
Ep 2 · 49:56
clinical For unstable EA/TEF patient, laparotomy with G-tube and vessel loop around GE junction allows fistula control and ventilation, deferring thoracic repair until patient stabilizes
Ep 2 · 54:34
clinical Bronchoscopy should be performed in all EA/TEF cases to identify additional fistulas
Ep 2 · 58:19
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung can be performed via median sternotomy: divide trachea, repair esophagus posteriorly, reconstruct trachea and fish-mouth abnormal bronchus to create lung connection
Ep 2 · 59:03
clinical If initial TEF ligation is performed too far from trachea (2cm), significant esophageal length is lost, potentially preventing primary anastomosis
Ep 2 · 59:24
clinical Magnet anastomosis can be attempted when esophageal ends are tacked together but gap prevents primary anastomosis
Ep 2 · 59:43
quote It'll be great if it works.
Ep 2 · 1:01:43
clinical Tracheal reconstruction for esophageal lung is performed on cardiopulmonary bypass

Tracheoesophageal Fistula with Dr. Daniel von Allmen

Ep 8 · 1:36
quote It certainly is an interest that we have here with a whole group here in Cincinnati, but it can be an incredibly difficult, challenging problem. It's one of the great cases in pediatric surgery and one of the most difficult cases, so it really runs the whole spectrum for sure.
Ep 8 · 2:01
clinical Cincinnati Children's has a multidisciplinary aerodigestive center including ENT airway surgeons, GI, pulmonary, general surgeons, nurse practitioners, geneticists, and dietitians
Ep 8 · 2:46
clinical The aerodigestive center typically receives more complicated patients referred from outside through either esophageal or airway arms
Ep 8 · 3:55
clinical Physical examination should assess for scaphoid versus full or distended abdomen and respiratory distress
Ep 8 · 4:20
quote I personally like to try to pass the NG tube myself, having been burned with NG tubes that wouldn't go down, and the patient was started on treatment as an oesophageal atresia and subsequently found that the NG tube passes just fine.
Ep 8 · 4:20
clinical The surgeon should personally attempt to pass the NG tube rather than relying on nursing reports, as tubes reported as not passing sometimes pass easily
Ep 8 · 4:55
clinical Injecting air into the NG tube and obtaining a plain film helps visualize proximal pouch distention and assess distal GI gas pattern
Ep 8 · 5:01
quote If I can't see a distended proximal pouch, then I worry. I worry that either one of two things either that the diagnosis is incorrect and in fact it is not an esophageal atresia, or that there could be a proximal fistula which is allowing that proximal pouch to decompress.
Ep 8 · 5:01
clinical Lack of visible distended proximal pouch raises concern for either incorrect diagnosis or presence of proximal fistula allowing pouch decompression
Ep 8 · 5:42
clinical Contrast studies can be performed if there is high suspicion of unusual anatomy, as long as the radiologist knows the esophagus may be obstructed
Ep 8 · 6:25
clinical Echocardiogram is the most important preoperative study to assess cardiac anatomy and rule out right-sided aortic arch
Ep 8 · 6:25
quote The most important one prior to taking the patient to the operating room is to get an echocardiogram, and the utility of that is, is obviously to assess the cardiac anatomy, but more as importantly, I would say is to assess to be sure that the patient does not have a right-sided aortic arch.
Ep 8 · 6:54
clinical Renal ultrasound and spine evaluation for tethered cord are needed but are elective and not necessary before addressing esophageal atresia
Ep 8 · 7:27
guideline Conventional wisdom is to perform left thoracotomy for right-sided aortic arch
Ep 8 · 7:51
clinical Left thoracotomy for right-sided arch is somewhat more difficult with the heart more in the way and harder proximal pouch mobilization
Ep 8 · 8:20
clinical It is possible to complete the repair from the right side if right-sided arch is discovered intraoperatively, though some reports suggest higher incidence of swallowing problems
Ep 8 · 9:31
clinical In a stable larger baby not intubated, it is reasonable to wait until all resources are available in the middle of the day, even waiting 1-2 days
Ep 8 · 9:56
clinical Should not wait a long time before repair due to risk of colonizing GI tract and soiling lungs
Ep 8 · 10:15
clinical Large fistula with distention tends to be a bigger problem in more premature infants with significant lung disease, where poor lung compliance drives air into GI tract
Ep 8 · 10:15
opinion Oscillator ventilation does not make a significant difference in managing large fistulas with abdominal distention
Ep 8 · 10:15
quote I've not found personally that an oscillator makes a whole lot of difference. I think if the child has a, has a large fistula, and typically it's actually, I believe this tends to be a bigger problem in younger, that is more premature infants who have more significant lung disease, and their compliance of their lungs is really what drives the The air into the GI tract as opposed to into the lungs.
Ep 8 · 10:56
clinical Treating with surfactant and improving lung compliance helps as much as changing ventilator type
Ep 8 · 11:21
clinical Risk of waiting too long to make a decision in worsening distention can lead to emergency situation where child cannot be ventilated
Ep 8 · 11:21
quote I think this is a difficult clinical scenario, and, and I think one of the risks is to wait too long to make a decision, and I've made that mistake myself, and then it becomes an emergency if you can't ventilate the child.
Ep 8 · 12:00
opinion Bronchoscopic Fogarty balloon placement sounds good but is difficult unless expertise and equipment are immediately available
Ep 8 · 12:00
clinical G-tube decompression may paradoxically worsen ventilation by making stomach lower resistance, allowing more air to go there instead of lungs
Ep 8 · 12:00
quote Decompressing the stomach may just allow that to become, in effect, the even lower resistance and allow more air to go there, making it even more difficult to ventilate. You relieve the abdominal distention, but you don't fix the flow of gas from the Trachea to the GI tract as opposed to from the trachea to the lungs.
Ep 8 · 12:00
clinical For reasonably stable but worsening distention, would take child urgently to OR for right thoracotomy and fistula ligation
Ep 8 · 12:50
clinical Laparotomy with vessel loop around esophagogastric junction at hiatus with gentle traction (Rommel tourniquet technique) can temporize severe cases, leaving in place for several days before definitive repair
Ep 8 · 13:36
clinical For associated duodenal atresia in stable child, would potentially fix duodenal atresia first to avoid fixing esophagus upstream from obstruction
Ep 8 · 14:05
clinical Both duodenal and esophageal atresia could potentially be fixed at same time if child is old enough and stable enough
Ep 8 · 14:35
quote We have seen that many times in patients who are referred who've had multiple thoracotomies. Nobody ever did a bronchoscopy and the child actually has a laryngeal cleft
Ep 8 · 14:35
quote That is one of the things that I have changed in my management after coming here and having exposure to the patient population that we see, the complex patients that we see with the esophageal center and the neurodigestive center, and The airway surgeons here have convinced me that it is really important to do a bronchoscopy
Ep 8 · 14:35
clinical Von Allmen changed practice to always perform intraoperative bronchoscopy after exposure to Cincinnati's complex patient population
Ep 8 · 14:35
clinical Bronchoscopy documents fistula location, assesses for proximal fistula, and most importantly rules out laryngeal cleft which is easily missed
Ep 8 · 14:35
clinical Many referred patients with multiple thoracotomies never had bronchoscopy and actually have laryngeal cleft
Ep 8 · 15:35
epidemiological Second fistula occurs in approximately 1% of cases and can be very difficult to diagnose
Ep 8 · 15:52
clinical High fistulas can range from trifurcation of carina (suggesting difficulty getting ends together) to very high fistulas potentially approachable through neck
Ep 8 · 16:35
clinical For fistula at carina (trifurcation), ET tube should be placed higher as it cannot pass the fistula; for high fistula, tube should be placed distal to fistula but not into the fistula itself
Ep 8 · 16:35
clinical Bronchoscopy allows guidance of ET tube placement by anesthesiologist based on fistula location
Ep 8 · 17:19
clinical Extrapleural approach offers advantage of potentially limiting soilage of pleural space if there is postoperative leak
Ep 8 · 17:19
quote I do an extra plural approach and that's the way I was trained. I think it offers the advantage of potentially limiting any soilage of the plural space if there is a leak postoperatively.
Ep 8 · 17:41
clinical Dividing azygos has no morbidity, gives better access, and frequently guides to the fistula
Ep 8 · 17:41
quote I think there's no morbidity associated with that, so dividing the azygus gives you better access. In fact, frequently will guide you to the fistula.
Ep 8 · 17:59
clinical Open azygos division is done by ligation and division; thoracoscopically can use energy devices or clips
Ep 8 · 18:51
quote It is amazing what you can divide with the electric cautery, with the hook electric cautery if you just get used to it, and I learned that doing actually robotic Nissans that you can divide the short gastrics in a teenager with the with the hook electric cautery.
Ep 8 · 18:51
opinion 3mm surgical sealer is ideal device for this size patient and vessel
Ep 8 · 18:51
clinical Hook cautery can safely divide vessels if done slowly going up and down to ensure coagulation, learned from robotic Nissen experience dividing short gastrics
Ep 8 · 19:35
clinical After azygos division, identify distal esophagus and control with vessel loop, then dissect proximally to identify fistula site
Ep 8 · 19:35
clinical Spreading heel of right angle on ribs nicely shows extrapleural plane when going through intercostal muscles
Ep 8 · 19:35
clinical Important to mobilize pleura up around apex of lung to have access for proximal pouch mobilization
Ep 8 · 20:28
opinion Muscle-sparing thoracotomy can make exposure more difficult; has not seen significant morbidity from standard posterolateral thoracotomy
Ep 8 · 21:10
clinical Standard teaching has been not to mobilize distal esophagus, but can actually mobilize it significantly especially laterally all the way to diaphragm
Ep 8 · 21:10
clinical Must be careful with medial mobilization of distal esophagus due to blood supply concerns
Ep 8 · 21:10
opinion Thoracoscopic approach advantage is clearer visualization for proximal pouch mobilization
Ep 8 · 21:10
clinical Extensive proximal pouch mobilization gives the most length to get ends together
Ep 8 · 21:10
quote I think we have learned that, you know, the standard teaching has been that you shouldn't mobilize the distal esophagus at all, and I think we've learned that in fact you can mobilize that segment a fair amount, especially laterally.
Ep 8 · 22:20
clinical Better to be in esophagus than trachea during high chest dissection; esophagus is thickened from obstruction
Ep 8 · 22:20
quote I completely agree, and I think that you have to be very careful. I personally like to just use a blade, electric cautery and with a little buzz and then mostly blunt dissection with the flat end of the blade, and I think that. That can help you and staying right on the esophagus, which is usually very thickened because it's an obstructed piece of bowel. I would rather be in the esophagus than be in the trachea up high in the chest.
Ep 8 · 22:20
clinical Risk of entering trachea during proximal dissection; must be very careful using blade cautery with light buzz and mostly blunt dissection with flat end of blade
Ep 8 · 23:01
clinical For significant tracheal defect, could perform sleeve resection as trachea is incredibly mobile, then place pericardium or autologous tissue between trachea and esophageal repair
Ep 8 · 23:59
opinion Personal preference is 5-0 PDS - absorbable monofilament suture; not a fan of silk
Ep 8 · 24:42
quote I personally am not a big fan of myotomy. I think it. Potentially creates an even more dysfunctional segment of the esophagus than already exists. The motility is clearly abnormal in patients with oesophageal atresia, and doing a myotomy just makes that problem worse.
Ep 8 · 24:42
opinion Not a fan of myotomies as they potentially create even more dysfunctional esophageal segment; motility is already clearly abnormal in esophageal atresia
Ep 8 · 24:42
clinical For cases too tight for primary repair, would ligate ends, tack both on tension to prevertebral fascia, close, let patient grow for couple weeks, then return to put together
Ep 8 · 25:38
clinical Traction or pressure is very strong stimulus to growth throughout cardiovascular system and lungs
Ep 8 · 25:38
quote I believe very firmly in the physiology of traction or pressure. Actually it's sort of the reverse, is a very strong stimulus to growth all over the place in the cardiovascular system in the lungs
Ep 8 · 26:10
clinical For thoracoscopic approach, can place traction sutures in proximal and distal ends brought out through crossed trocar sites with tension, allowing return within a week for anastomosis
Ep 8 · 26:10
opinion Would not do classic Foker technique with prolonged paralysis and sequential suture tensioning
Ep 8 · 27:38
quote They published a series a year ago or so in JPS looking at their results, and, and it was a very carefully well documented report of their results, and the data are striking if you Have a patient who has a primary atresia that you address, then in 98% of patients they're able to get the two ends of the esophagus together. In contrast, if it's a patient who's had previous surgeries and it's a secondary approach, then only 2/3 of those patients ever get the esophagus together.
Ep 8 · 27:38
clinical Foker technique requires patients intubated and paralyzed spending weeks in ICU, which is probably worth it if you get good result
Ep 8 · 27:38
epidemiological Rusty Jennings and Foker published series in JPS showing 98% success getting ends together in primary atresia versus only 67% in secondary approaches after previous surgeries
Ep 8 · 29:18
clinical For thoracoscopic procedure, rotate patient past 90 degrees to allow gravity to move lungs out of way
Ep 8 · 29:18
clinical Standard port placement: camera in center, posterior port inferiorly, anterior port superiorly
Ep 8 · 29:52
clinical Uses 3mm instruments for thoracoscopic TEF repair
Ep 8 · 30:10
opinion Simulation courses for TEF repair will be great advantage for trainees as these cases are not done often enough to get practice
Ep 8 · 30:10
quote I'm less worried about them falling off the esophagus than I am having them fall off a blood vessel.
Ep 8 · 30:10
opinion Important to do same quality operation thoracoscopically as would do open
Ep 8 · 30:10
clinical Sewing the anastomosis is one of the challenges with thoracoscopic TEF repair and requires most experience with minimally invasive techniques
Ep 8 · 30:10
opinion Would use clips for dividing fistula thoracoscopically, less worried about them falling off esophagus than blood vessel
Ep 8 · 30:10
quote I think as with most minimally invasive operations, I think it's important to do the same operation or at least the same quality operation that you would do open and Frankly, I think that's one of the challenges with the thoracoscopic repair of a TEF is to actually sew the anastomosis.
Ep 8 · 30:10
opinion Thoracoscopic visualization is very helpful for mobilizing proximal pouch
Ep 8 · 31:37
host_summary Atlanta group uses stay stitch between two ends brought out of chest to hold anastomosis up for subsequent stitches, similar to duodenal atresia technique
Ep 8 · 34:30
clinical Thoracoscopic ventilation management depends more on anesthesiologist than ventilator type; need anesthesiologist comfortable with procedure who pays attention during operation
Ep 8 · 34:30
quote I think it's more dependent on the anesthesiologist than it is on the type of ventilator, and you have to have an anesthesiologist who's comfortable with doing this and understands what you're trying to accomplish and is paying attention while you're actually doing the operation because they can either help you a lot or hurt you a lot with how they ventilate the child.
Ep 8 · 35:20
clinical Anesthesiologists can get scared seeing initial shunting but things settle down if they wait
Ep 8 · 35:20
clinical Little CO2 insufflation with some time will collapse lung as long as anesthesiologist isn't fighting with positive pressure
Ep 8 · 36:05
opinion Prefer spontaneous breathing with negative pressure in trachea rather than positive pressure
Ep 8 · 36:05
clinical Concern about reintubation exists, but equally concerned that positive pressure puts pressure on tracheal repair
Ep 8 · 36:05
clinical If patient had good lung function preoperatively and operation went smoothly, advocate extubating as soon as possible, even conceivably in operating room
Ep 8 · 36:05
quote I agree it is a concern that the patient may require reintubation. However, I'm equally concerned that positive pressure is putting pressure on my tracheal repair, and I would much rather have the patient be breathing spontaneously to have, in fact, the opposite effect of a negative pressure in the trachea.
Ep 8 · 36:35
quote I do honestly, I'm a little bit old school in that. I still get an esophagram. I usually wait for about 5 days.
Ep 8 · 36:35
clinical Gets contrast study at 5-7 days before pulling chest drain, timing depends on avoiding weekends
Ep 8 · 36:35
clinical Uses small TLS drain rather than formal chest tube, especially for open extrapleural approach
Ep 8 · 37:20
clinical Does not use transanastomotic tube based on Midwest Pediatric Surgical Consortium study showing much higher stricture and leak rate with transanastomotic tubes
Ep 8 · 37:20
quote I do not actually. I again, a practice of mine that has changed based on our results from the Midwest Pediatric Surgical Consortium study in which the patients who Had a trans anastomotic tube had a much higher stricture and leak rate than patients that did not have that.
Ep 8 · 37:37
clinical Midwest consortium study was presented at APSA and should be published in JPS soon
Ep 8 · 37:55
clinical Always appears to be narrowing at anastomosis because proximal pouch is dilated; as long as patent with free contrast flow distally, would hold off on dilation
Ep 8 · 37:55
clinical Unless incredibly tight stricture risking complete obstruction, would wait several weeks before first dilation
Ep 8 · 37:55
quote Unless it's an incredibly tight stricture, I would wait several weeks before doing a dilation unless I was worried there was going to be a complete obstruction.
Ep 8 · 37:55
quote There's always reported a narrowing because the proximal pouch is always dilated, so it always looks like there's a narrowing at the anastomosis. As long as it's patent and contrast flows freely down the distal esophagus, I would hold off on. Uh, dialing it, dilating it probably several weeks if possible.
Ep 8 · 38:23
clinical Fairly aggressive with dilations: dilate, wait 1-2 weeks, restudy, potentially dilate again
Ep 8 · 38:23
clinical If case goes well and post-op study looks great, does not get routine follow-up esophagrams; studies based on clinical symptoms suggesting stricture
Ep 8 · 38:23
clinical Huge spectrum from very tight strictures requiring many dilations to kids fine after one dilation
Ep 8 · 39:19
clinical Dilations done with GI colleagues in aerodigestive center for bigger kids or with interventional radiologists
Ep 8 · 39:19
clinical Balloon or radial dilation is less traumatic for tissue than bougie dilators
Ep 8 · 39:19
quote I think that again, having trained using bougie dilators, a balloon or radial dilation is, is less traumatic for the tissue
Ep 8 · 39:51
quote I would absolutely wait and do nothing. I would leave the drain in and usually that presents with some saliva in the drain, and I would just wait, and the vast majority of those close.
Ep 8 · 39:51
clinical For small leak with child not sick, would absolutely wait and do nothing, leaving drain in; vast majority close
Ep 8 · 40:09
clinical Would only go to OR for leak if child getting sicker, wide open leak, or large uncontrollable pneumothorax
Ep 8 · 40:09
clinical Even reasonably significant leaks will heal, then can deal with stricture postoperatively
Ep 8 · 40:34
clinical Sometimes little outpouching where leak happened makes it unclear if still leaking; if nothing from tube and nothing goes further, leak probably healed and would remove tube
Ep 8 · 40:34
clinical Usually waits one week between esophagrams for leak; if child continues to do well, restudies
Ep 8 · 41:19
clinical Patients in their 20s-40s at international meeting discuss long-term issues; surgeons tend to follow until eating well or age 18 then never see them again
Ep 8 · 41:19
clinical International esophageal atresia meeting occurs every 2 years and is multidisciplinary including patients
Ep 8 · 41:19
opinion Have a lot to learn about long-term complications; personally follows patients for at least couple years which is probably not long enough
Ep 8 · 41:19
quote I think that first of all I would make the comment that that's a great point and it's interesting to participate in the International oesophageal atresia. A meeting that occurs every 2 years and to go and see the patients because that meeting is multidisciplinary, including even patients, and you see these patients who come back who are in their 20s or 30s or 40s and they talk about the long term issues that they have and we tend to follow patients until they're, you know, until they're eating well and then they're gone
Ep 8 · 42:15
quote The patients that worry me more honestly are the patients who have ongoing reflux, and we don't know the long term impact of that on things like Barrett's esophagus and Potential long term risk for malignant change and those sorts of things.
Ep 8 · 42:15
clinical Biggest challenges in long-term follow-up are reflux and recurrent strictures
Ep 8 · 42:15
clinical More concerning are patients with ongoing reflux due to unknown long-term impact on Barrett's esophagus and potential malignant change
Ep 8 · 42:45
clinical If patient has stricture dilated 2-3 times, next move would be to address reflux
Ep 8 · 42:45
clinical Most patients left on anti-reflux medications when discharged from hospital
Ep 8 · 42:45
clinical Very aggressive about fundoplication for strictures not responsive to dilations (dilates easily then restrictures)
Ep 8 · 42:45
clinical Virtually all patients have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux
Ep 8 · 42:45
quote If I have a patient who has a stricture that's been dilated 2 or 3 times, my next move would be to address reflux. Most of the patients we leave on anti-reflux medications when they are discharged from the hospital. I would argue that virtually all patients have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux. If they have a stricture that is not responsive to dilations, it dilates easily and then restrictures. I personally am very aggressive about doing a fundoplication on those patients
Ep 8 · 43:26
quote I do, but as with most Nissans, I make them loose and I make them short, so I usually use two or at most 3 stitches for the wrap and make sure that it is loose around the distal esophagus.
Ep 8 · 43:26
clinical Does Nissen fundoplication in patients with poor esophageal motility but makes them loose and short, using 2 or at most 3 stitches
Ep 8 · 43:26
clinical For pure esophageal atresia, approach is G-tube placement with calibration of gap length using distal catheter pushed up and NG tube in proximal pouch
Ep 8 · 43:26
clinical Would wait 4-6 weeks to see how close ends come together, then attempt primary repair once within 2 vertebral bodies

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 26 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 26 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 26 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 26 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 26 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 26 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 26 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 26 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 26 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 26 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 26 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 26 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 26 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.
Fetal Surgery 62 entries

Treatment for Long Gap Esophageal Atresia: Esophageal Elongation and Replacement

Ep 18 · 0:46
quote Our method here is that if we have a child with no gas in the abdomen and we take them to the OR and put a G-tube in, many times we'll do, we'll put something up the distal esophagus at that point and just get a fluoro shot. But then we'd wait a couple of weeks and we have our patients go down to interventional radiology where we have a protocol for measuring the gap.
Ep 18 · 0:46
clinical At Cincinnati Children's, if a child has no gas in the abdomen, they place a G-tube and may put something up the distal esophagus for a fluoro shot, then wait a couple of weeks for a protocol gap measurement in interventional radiology.
Ep 18 · 0:46
clinical At Cincinnati Children's, if a child has no gas in the abdomen, they place a G-tube and may put something up the distal esophagus for a fluoro shot, then wait a couple of weeks for a protocol gap measurement in interventional radiology.
Ep 18 · 0:46
quote Our method here is that if we have a child with no gas in the abdomen and we take them to the OR and put a G-tube in, many times we'll do, we'll put something up the distal esophagus at that point and just get a fluoro shot. But then we'd wait a couple of weeks and we have our patients go down to interventional radiology where we have a protocol for measuring the gap.
Ep 18 · 2:10
clinical The philosophy of traction-based elongation is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow, and if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 18 · 2:10
clinical Stretch is a very strong promoter of growth, and if you put things on tension they will actually grow over time, which is how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 18 · 2:10
quote The physiology, which I believe in intensely, is that stretch is a very strong promoter of growth. And then if you put things on tension, they will actually grow over time. That's how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 18 · 2:10
quote But the philosophy here is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow. And if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 18 · 2:10
quote The physiology, which I believe in intensely, is that stretch is a very strong promoter of growth. And then if you put things on tension, they will actually grow over time. That's how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 18 · 2:10
clinical Stretch is a very strong promoter of growth, and if you put things on tension they will actually grow over time, which is how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 18 · 2:10
clinical The philosophy of traction-based elongation is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow, and if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 18 · 2:10
quote But the philosophy here is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow. And if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 18 · 3:15
epidemiological In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group (de novo cases) achieved an intact esophagus in 96% of patients, while the secondary group (patients with previous operations) achieved this in about two thirds of patients.
Ep 18 · 3:15
epidemiological In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group had a median ICU stay of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed, and the secondary group had a median ICU stay of 110 days with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote Obviously, you look at the result of getting the esophagus together and intact esophagus in 96% of patients in the primary group, about two thirds of patients in the secondary group.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote But these procedures are not without some morbidity. And you look at the ICU stay is a median of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed for the primary group and 110 days for the secondary group with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote About two thirds of patients with the primary repair were able to get the full oral nutrition and about 10% of the patients who had the secondary repair.
Ep 18 · 3:15
epidemiological In the Boston Group 2015 study, about two thirds of patients with primary repair were able to get full oral nutrition and about 10% of patients who had secondary repair achieved full oral nutrition.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote There was a great article published by the Boston Group 2015. Divides the cases into two groups, a primary group and a secondary group. Secondary being patients who had had operations previously in the primary group, being cases that they saw de novo.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote Obviously, you look at the result of getting the esophagus together and intact esophagus in 96% of patients in the primary group, about two thirds of patients in the secondary group.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote There was a great article published by the Boston Group 2015. Divides the cases into two groups, a primary group and a secondary group. Secondary being patients who had had operations previously in the primary group, being cases that they saw de novo.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote But these procedures are not without some morbidity. And you look at the ICU stay is a median of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed for the primary group and 110 days for the secondary group with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 18 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group (de novo cases) achieved an intact esophagus in 96% of patients, while the secondary group (patients with previous operations) achieved this in about two thirds of patients.
Ep 18 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, about two thirds of patients with primary repair were able to get full oral nutrition and about 10% of patients who had secondary repair achieved full oral nutrition.
Ep 18 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group had a median ICU stay of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed, and the secondary group had a median ICU stay of 110 days with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 18 · 3:15
quote About two thirds of patients with the primary repair were able to get the full oral nutrition and about 10% of the patients who had the secondary repair.
Ep 18 · 4:36
host_summary The surgical group from INOEA recommends gastric pull up as the first option for esophageal replacement, dividing the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilizing the fundus to pull it up in either the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 18 · 4:36
clinical The colon can be used as an interposition for esophageal replacement.
Ep 18 · 4:36
quote You could use the stomach. That would be called a gastric transposition. The surgical group from the INOEA, their recommendation, the recommendation for the first option is a gastric pull up.
Ep 18 · 4:36
quote You divide the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilize the fundus and pull the fundus up and you can pull it up either in the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 18 · 4:36
quote You can actually use the colon as an interposition as well. I personally was trained to do colon interpositions.
Ep 18 · 4:36
clinical The colon can be used as an interposition for esophageal replacement.
Ep 18 · 4:36
quote You can actually use the colon as an interposition as well. I personally was trained to do colon interpositions.
Ep 18 · 4:36
guideline The surgical group from INOEA recommends gastric pull up as the first option for esophageal replacement, dividing the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilizing the fundus to pull it up in either the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 18 · 4:36
quote You could use the stomach. That would be called a gastric transposition. The surgical group from the INOEA, their recommendation, the recommendation for the first option is a gastric pull up.
Ep 18 · 4:36
quote You divide the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilize the fundus and pull the fundus up and you can pull it up either in the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 18 · 8:00
clinical Common problems with colonic interposition are that the colon can dilate and become tortuous, and it's not uncommon to get a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 18 · 8:00
quote Common problems with this are that they dilate and they can become tortuous. It's not uncommon to get kind of a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 18 · 8:00
quote Common problems with this are that they dilate and they can become tortuous. It's not uncommon to get kind of a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 18 · 8:00
clinical Common problems with colonic interposition are that the colon can dilate and become tortuous, and it's not uncommon to get a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 18 · 8:17
quote I pass the interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine. And you can mobilize the colon. You can divide the gastric dual aporotomy, divide the colon attachment to the stomach, and then mobilize that sigmoid redundancy transhiatally, and then reinestimose the colon to the stomach.
Ep 18 · 8:17
quote I was taught initially that you can't fix that and that it's too dangerous and that you'll risk the blood supply to the colon interposition. But I found that actually that's not really true.
Ep 18 · 8:17
quote So I wouldn't pretend to say that these don't need to be revised sometimes, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 18 · 8:17
opinion Colonic interpositions sometimes need to be revised, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 18 · 8:17
opinion Von Allman was initially taught that sigmoid redundancy in colonic interposition can't be fixed and that it's too dangerous because it will risk the blood supply, but he found that this is not really true.
Ep 18 · 8:17
clinical Von Allman passes the colonic interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine, allowing mobilization of the colon by dividing the gastric duodenotomy and colon attachment to the stomach, then mobilizing the sigmoid redundancy transhiatally and reanastomosing the colon to the stomach.
Ep 18 · 8:17
quote I pass the interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine. And you can mobilize the colon. You can divide the gastric dual aporotomy, divide the colon attachment to the stomach, and then mobilize that sigmoid redundancy transhiatally, and then reinestimose the colon to the stomach.
Ep 18 · 8:17
quote So I wouldn't pretend to say that these don't need to be revised sometimes, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 18 · 8:17
quote I was taught initially that you can't fix that and that it's too dangerous and that you'll risk the blood supply to the colon interposition. But I found that actually that's not really true.
Ep 18 · 8:17
opinion Von Allman was initially taught that sigmoid redundancy in colonic interposition can't be fixed and that it's too dangerous because it will risk the blood supply, but he found that this is not really true.
Ep 18 · 8:17
clinical Von Allman passes the colonic interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine, allowing mobilization of the colon by dividing the gastric duodenotomy and colon attachment to the stomach, then mobilizing the sigmoid redundancy transhiatally and reanastomosing the colon to the stomach.
Ep 18 · 8:17
opinion Colonic interpositions sometimes need to be revised, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 18 · 9:03
clinical You can get extraordinary length with colonic interposition, allowing treatment of cases with caustic injuries extending to the pharynx by sewing the colon to the pharynx and down to the stomach, which is tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 18 · 9:03
quote You can get extraordinary length on this. And Mike and I have done a few cases for kids who had disasters, multiple operations elsewhere, who had caustic injuries that were involved all the way up to the pharynx, where we had to do a lot of work just on the pharynx to get that open, and then literally sew the colon interposition to the pharynx and then down to the stomach, which is obviously tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 18 · 9:03
quote You can get extraordinary length on this. And Mike and I have done a few cases for kids who had disasters, multiple operations elsewhere, who had caustic injuries that were involved all the way up to the pharynx, where we had to do a lot of work just on the pharynx to get that open, and then literally sew the colon interposition to the pharynx and then down to the stomach, which is obviously tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 18 · 9:03
clinical You can get extraordinary length with colonic interposition, allowing treatment of cases with caustic injuries extending to the pharynx by sewing the colon to the pharynx and down to the stomach, which is tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 18 · 9:56
opinion Von Allman states we don't know whether esophageal elongation is growth or stretch and should do studies to understand that, but notes that tension is a very good physiologic growth promoter in other organs, making this an area ripe for more basic science.
Ep 18 · 9:56
quote I don't think we know we should do the studies to understand that. But I would say that this gets back to David van der Zee's comment about, go have a cup of coffee and come back and it'll be fine. Clearly, that's not growth, that's stretch.
Ep 18 · 9:56
quote And yet there's very good physiologic data that tension is a growth promoter, not necessarily in the esophagus, but in other organs. So I think that it's an area ripe for a little more basic science.
Ep 18 · 9:56
opinion Von Allman states we don't know whether esophageal elongation is growth or stretch and should do studies to understand that, but notes that tension is a very good physiologic growth promoter in other organs, making this an area ripe for more basic science.
Ep 18 · 9:56
quote I don't think we know we should do the studies to understand that. But I would say that this gets back to David van der Zee's comment about, go have a cup of coffee and come back and it'll be fine. Clearly, that's not growth, that's stretch.
Ep 18 · 9:56
quote And yet there's very good physiologic data that tension is a growth promoter, not necessarily in the esophagus, but in other organs. So I think that it's an area ripe for a little more basic science.

Gastoesophageal Reflux: Update Course 2015

Ep 5 · 8:43
host_summary In adult literature, after about 15 years almost all fundoplications are undone
Ep 5 · 9:03
quote If you look at the adult literature for fund application, after about 15 years, almost all of them are, are, are undone. And so I don't know why we think that ours is going to be any different. We just don't follow our patients past 18.
Ep 5 · 10:09
quote Do they have data to support that statement, the significant morbidity?
Ep 5 · 10:15
quote There's lots of articles that many in this room have authored that show that the immediate morbidity and mortality of a fundoplication, of a laparoscopic fundoplication, even in infants is very low. It's a safe operation.
Ep 5 · 10:15
clinical Immediate morbidity and mortality of laparoscopic fundoplication, even in infants, is very low and it is a safe operation
Ep 5 · 16:28
quote Do PPIs stop vomiting? No. I, I never understood that acid reflux less acidic, right?
Ep 5 · 16:28
clinical PPIs do not stop vomiting; they make refluxed material less acidic
Ep 5 · 21:20
host_summary Neurologically impaired patients do worse than neurologically normal patients after fundoplication according to historical data
Ep 5 · 25:20
quote I started doing is I put an NG tube down, and if they do well with an NG tube, I just do a G tube. If they don't, I do a Nissan. That's as simple as I make it.
Ep 5 · 25:40
clinical Trial of bolus NG tube feeding predicts whether infant needs fundoplication: if they do well with NG tube, perform G-tube alone; if they don't, perform Nissen

Neuroblastoma: Update Course 2014

Ep 2 · 0:34
quote I think that the, the main controversy, at least from my perspective, that still persists is what to do with the high-risk patients.
Ep 2 · 0:42
epidemiological Survival rate for high-risk neuroblastoma patients is in the 38 to 40% range
Ep 2 · 6:31
quote The difference between what a surgeon says they did in the operating room and and what the postoperative imaging says they did in the operating room, and those are not necessarily the same.
Ep 2 · 6:52
clinical Surgeon-reported degree of resection showed only 66% concordance with radiologist assessment of postoperative imaging in tandem transplant pilot study
Ep 2 · 7:33
clinical Repeat study in recent COG high-risk trial showed same 66% concordance rate between surgeon op notes and postoperative imaging, with surgeons underestimating and radiologists overcalling resection completeness
Ep 2 · 8:16
quote We don't have a very good definition of what is a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 2 · 10:00
host_summary Memorial Sloan Kettering data suggests biggest volume response of neuroblastoma tumor occurs with first two cycles of chemotherapy, with very little response after that
Ep 2 · 10:17
quote The more chemotherapy you give or other agents, and now things like MIBG, which is local radiation, um. Uh, that you actually make the tumor more fibrotic, and it makes that technique of getting down on the vessels and splitting it off much more difficult.
Ep 2 · 10:17
opinion More chemotherapy or other agents like MIBG may make tumor more fibrotic and make subadventitial dissection more difficult
Ep 2 · 13:07
epidemiological Complication rate for aggressive neuroblastoma resection is approximately 30% morbidity with mortality less than 1%
Ep 2 · 15:10
clinical High-risk neuroblastoma treatment includes tandem peripheral blood stem cell transplants, with second transplant given as soon as patient recovers from first, followed by immunotherapy and Retin-A
Ep 2 · 16:48
host_summary German study of 278 stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma patients achieved complete resection in almost half and >90% resection in another quarter (75% total with >90% resection)
Ep 2 · 17:13
host_summary German study showed overall survival 45%, event-free survival 33%, and local progression-free survival 58% in stage 4 neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 17:32
host_summary German study showed no difference in overall survival, event-free survival, or local progression-free survival based on completeness of resection in stage 4 neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 17:51
host_summary German study concluded aggressive surgery is not justified in stage 4 neuroblastoma, that limited operations decrease complications, and there is limited impact on patient outcome
Ep 2 · 18:14
host_summary European study included 1,324 high-risk neuroblastoma patients (stages 2, 3, and 4) and achieved 76% with >95% resection
Ep 2 · 19:02
host_summary European neuroblastoma study showed 0.5% mortality and 10% morbidity (30% including lesser complications)
Ep 2 · 19:17
host_summary European study showed significant improvement in event-free survival and overall survival with aggressive resection in high-risk neuroblastoma - first study to show overall survival benefit
Ep 2 · 19:37
quote This is very important to support the aggressive approach that everybody in this room has suggested that they would, uh, that they would pursue. There actually now is some data to support that.
Ep 2 · 20:17
host_summary European study concluded >95% resection results in improvement in event-free survival in high-risk neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 21:24
host_summary COG 3973 study of approximately 230 high-risk neuroblastoma patients showed significant improvement in local relapse-free survival and event-free survival but not overall survival
Ep 2 · 21:56
opinion COG 3973 study's inability to demonstrate overall survival benefit may be type 2 error due to smaller sample size (230 vs 1,300 patients in European study)
Ep 2 · 23:30
quote If you're not comfortable taking care of them, you should send them to somebody that is.
Ep 2 · 23:33
host_summary European neuroblastoma procedures are performed in more than 200 hospitals yet still demonstrated survival improvements
Ep 2 · 24:03
host_summary Older data shows worse survival in neuroblastoma when kidney is removed, likely because single kidney limits chemotherapy dosing
Ep 2 · 24:52
quote If you can't be informed, be opinionated
Ep 2 · 25:38
clinical Immunotherapy is effective in neuroblastoma in the setting of minimal residual disease
Intestinal Failure 26 entries

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 3 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 3 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 3 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 3 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 3 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 3 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 3 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 3 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 3 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 3 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 3 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 3 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 3 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 7 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 7 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 7 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 7 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 7 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 7 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 7 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 7 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 7 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 7 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 7 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 7 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 7 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.
Intestinal Rehab 26 entries

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 14 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 14 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 14 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 14 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 14 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 14 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 14 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 14 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 14 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 14 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 14 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 14 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 14 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 35 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 35 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 35 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 35 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 35 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 35 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 35 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 35 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 35 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 35 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 35 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 35 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 35 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.

Biliary Atresia, Appendicitis, Intestinal Failure, and Anesthetic...

Ep 4 · 2:48
host_summary The START trial randomized 140 infants with biliary atresia to high-dose steroids (IV for 2 weeks, oral for 2 weeks, taper over 9 weeks) versus placebo within 72 hours of Kasai portoenterostomy.
Ep 4 · 3:32
host_summary The primary outcome was serum total bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL with native liver at 6 months post-Kasai; the study was powered to detect a 25% absolute treatment difference.
Ep 4 · 4:01
host_summary High-dose steroid therapy after Kasai did not result in a statistically significant treatment difference in bile drainage at 6 months: 58.6% in the steroid group versus 48.6% in placebo.
Ep 4 · 4:39
host_summary Survival without liver transplant at 24 months was not statistically different: 58.7% for steroids versus 49.4% for placebo.
Ep 4 · 4:55
host_summary Adverse events were common in both groups (near 80%), largely reflecting severe underlying liver dysfunction; steroid treatment was associated with earlier onset of serious adverse events.
Ep 4 · 5:31
opinion Dr. von Almen personally used steroids after Kasai in the past but has stopped based on the START trial results.
Ep 4 · 5:31
quote I personally used to use them in my practice, but based on this study have stopped using them.
Ep 4 · 7:11
quote The authors of the paper, and I believe them, feel that anything less than a 25% difference is probably not worth the potential risk of the early complications associated with the steroids.
Ep 4 · 7:11
host_summary The authors of the START trial believe anything less than a 25% difference in bile drainage is not worth the potential early complications of steroids.
Ep 4 · 8:01
quote The whole point of this is to preserve the native liver.
Ep 4 · 9:09
clinical Two proposed mechanisms for steroid benefit in biliary atresia: reducing ongoing inflammation to preserve ductules, and acting as a choleretic to maintain bile flow (analogous to diuresis after kidney transplant).
Ep 4 · 10:08
quote I think that you have to always be careful about generalizing studies, and in this study it is specifically testing a fairly long course, 1413 week course of high dose steroids.
Ep 4 · 10:09
clinical The START trial specifically tested a 13-week course of high-dose steroids; the lack of benefit applies to that regimen.

Treatment for Long Gap Esophageal Atresia: Esophageal Elongation and Replacement

Ep 2 · 0:46
quote Our method here is that if we have a child with no gas in the abdomen and we take them to the OR and put a G-tube in, many times we'll do, we'll put something up the distal esophagus at that point and just get a fluoro shot. But then we'd wait a couple of weeks and we have our patients go down to interventional radiology where we have a protocol for measuring the gap.
Ep 2 · 0:46
clinical At Cincinnati Children's, if a child has no gas in the abdomen, they place a G-tube and may put something up the distal esophagus for a fluoro shot, then wait a couple of weeks for a protocol gap measurement in interventional radiology.
Ep 2 · 2:10
clinical The philosophy of traction-based elongation is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow, and if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 2 · 2:10
quote But the philosophy here is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow. And if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 2 · 2:10
quote The physiology, which I believe in intensely, is that stretch is a very strong promoter of growth. And then if you put things on tension, they will actually grow over time. That's how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 2 · 2:10
clinical Stretch is a very strong promoter of growth, and if you put things on tension they will actually grow over time, which is how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 2 · 3:15
quote About two thirds of patients with the primary repair were able to get the full oral nutrition and about 10% of the patients who had the secondary repair.
Ep 2 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group (de novo cases) achieved an intact esophagus in 96% of patients, while the secondary group (patients with previous operations) achieved this in about two thirds of patients.
Ep 2 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group had a median ICU stay of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed, and the secondary group had a median ICU stay of 110 days with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 2 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, about two thirds of patients with primary repair were able to get full oral nutrition and about 10% of patients who had secondary repair achieved full oral nutrition.
Ep 2 · 3:15
quote There was a great article published by the Boston Group 2015. Divides the cases into two groups, a primary group and a secondary group. Secondary being patients who had had operations previously in the primary group, being cases that they saw de novo.
Ep 2 · 3:15
quote Obviously, you look at the result of getting the esophagus together and intact esophagus in 96% of patients in the primary group, about two thirds of patients in the secondary group.
Ep 2 · 3:15
quote But these procedures are not without some morbidity. And you look at the ICU stay is a median of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed for the primary group and 110 days for the secondary group with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 2 · 4:36
quote You can actually use the colon as an interposition as well. I personally was trained to do colon interpositions.
Ep 2 · 4:36
quote You divide the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilize the fundus and pull the fundus up and you can pull it up either in the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 2 · 4:36
quote You could use the stomach. That would be called a gastric transposition. The surgical group from the INOEA, their recommendation, the recommendation for the first option is a gastric pull up.
Ep 2 · 4:36
host_summary The surgical group from INOEA recommends gastric pull up as the first option for esophageal replacement, dividing the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilizing the fundus to pull it up in either the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 2 · 4:36
clinical The colon can be used as an interposition for esophageal replacement.
Ep 2 · 8:00
clinical Common problems with colonic interposition are that the colon can dilate and become tortuous, and it's not uncommon to get a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 2 · 8:00
quote Common problems with this are that they dilate and they can become tortuous. It's not uncommon to get kind of a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 2 · 8:17
quote I was taught initially that you can't fix that and that it's too dangerous and that you'll risk the blood supply to the colon interposition. But I found that actually that's not really true.
Ep 2 · 8:17
quote So I wouldn't pretend to say that these don't need to be revised sometimes, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 2 · 8:17
opinion Von Allman was initially taught that sigmoid redundancy in colonic interposition can't be fixed and that it's too dangerous because it will risk the blood supply, but he found that this is not really true.
Ep 2 · 8:17
clinical Von Allman passes the colonic interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine, allowing mobilization of the colon by dividing the gastric duodenotomy and colon attachment to the stomach, then mobilizing the sigmoid redundancy transhiatally and reanastomosing the colon to the stomach.
Ep 2 · 8:17
opinion Colonic interpositions sometimes need to be revised, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 2 · 8:17
quote I pass the interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine. And you can mobilize the colon. You can divide the gastric dual aporotomy, divide the colon attachment to the stomach, and then mobilize that sigmoid redundancy transhiatally, and then reinestimose the colon to the stomach.
Ep 2 · 9:03
quote You can get extraordinary length on this. And Mike and I have done a few cases for kids who had disasters, multiple operations elsewhere, who had caustic injuries that were involved all the way up to the pharynx, where we had to do a lot of work just on the pharynx to get that open, and then literally sew the colon interposition to the pharynx and then down to the stomach, which is obviously tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 2 · 9:03
clinical You can get extraordinary length with colonic interposition, allowing treatment of cases with caustic injuries extending to the pharynx by sewing the colon to the pharynx and down to the stomach, which is tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 2 · 9:56
quote I don't think we know we should do the studies to understand that. But I would say that this gets back to David van der Zee's comment about, go have a cup of coffee and come back and it'll be fine. Clearly, that's not growth, that's stretch.
Ep 2 · 9:56
opinion Von Allman states we don't know whether esophageal elongation is growth or stretch and should do studies to understand that, but notes that tension is a very good physiologic growth promoter in other organs, making this an area ripe for more basic science.
Ep 2 · 9:56
quote And yet there's very good physiologic data that tension is a growth promoter, not necessarily in the esophagus, but in other organs. So I think that it's an area ripe for a little more basic science.
Metastatic Disease 37 entries

Topics in 10: Neuroblastoma

Ep 1 · 0:41
clinical When neuroblastoma patients have metastatic disease, they may present with either bony pain or potentially neurologic symptoms from cord compression.
Ep 1 · 0:41
clinical In younger patients, neuroblastoma is often picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids (two-year-old or three-year-old) as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 1 · 0:41
quote So in the younger patients, they're oftentimes picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids, say two-year-old or three-year-old, it might be picked up as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 1 · 1:07
clinical When considering neuroblastoma as part of the differential diagnosis, it is important to get catecholamines (either urine or serum) as one of the most diagnostic laboratory tests for this tumor.
Ep 1 · 1:39
clinical If imaging suggests neuroblastoma (central abdominal mass or adrenal mass rather than kidney mass), the next test would be a nuclear medicine study, typically an MIBG study.
Ep 1 · 1:39
clinical The MIBG study is helpful for confirming the diagnosis of neuroblastoma and can also demonstrate metastatic disease.
Ep 1 · 1:39
clinical Most children with suspected neuroblastoma would get a cross-sectional imaging study, either a CT scan or an MRI.
Ep 1 · 2:20
quote About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 1 · 2:20
clinical About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 1 · 2:20
clinical Some centers, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, would get a PET scan looking for tumor uptake as well as potential metastatic disease.
Ep 1 · 2:45
guideline Based on the most recent iteration of the neuroblastoma staging system (INRGSS), it is possible to assign a stage before any invasive procedure is performed.
Ep 1 · 2:45
guideline In the INRGSS system, tumors that are localized are categorized as L1; if localized but have image-defined risk factors (encasing nerves or vessels), they are L2; if they have metastatic disease, they are M.
Ep 1 · 2:45
guideline There is a special category MS for children less than 18 months of age who have metastases to either the bone marrow or the skin.
Ep 1 · 3:36
guideline The INRGSS pre-biopsy staging system was specifically created to allow studies from different centers in different countries to be compared based on the pre-surgical staging of the patient.
Ep 1 · 3:36
guideline The prior neuroblastoma staging system required tissue diagnosis before assigning a stage.
Ep 1 · 4:06
clinical A child with an adrenal mass on the right side and a positive MIBG scan but no evidence of metastases could potentially be treated with a primary resection of the mass via laparotomy.
Ep 1 · 4:06
opinion Some surgeons would approach resection of a localized neuroblastoma with laparoscopy depending on the size of the tumor.
Ep 1 · 4:44
clinical For very large masses that encase the aorta, cava, or other major vasculature, all you really want is tissue for diagnosis, which can be obtained through open biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, or core needle biopsies done by an interventional radiologist.
Ep 1 · 5:14
clinical The most important biologic risk determinant to obtain from neuroblastoma biopsy tissue is the NMIC status.
Ep 1 · 5:14
clinical In addition to NMIC status, you want to look for 1P and 11Q deletions and Shimada histology in neuroblastoma biopsy tissue.
Ep 1 · 5:45
epidemiological Neuroblastoma risk is divided about 50-50 between the low risk categories and the high risk category, with a smaller percentage being intermediate risk.
Ep 1 · 5:45
clinical Biologic risk determinants from biopsy will tell you what risk category the patient falls into: very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk.
Ep 1 · 6:11
quote NMIC and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 1 · 6:11
clinical NMIC amplification and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 1 · 6:11
clinical Patients with high risk neuroblastoma receive aggressive chemotherapy including peripheral stem cell transplant times 2, aggressive surgery with the goal of greater than 90% resection of the tumor, followed by radiation, immunotherapy after chemotherapy, and potentially retinoic acid therapy.
Ep 1 · 6:51
clinical Intermediate risk neuroblastoma tumors get varying cycles of chemotherapy based on the biologic risk factors they have.
Ep 1 · 6:51
clinical For intermediate risk neuroblastoma, the goal at the time of debulking or resecting the primary tumor is to achieve at least a 50% response from the initial volume of the primary tumor through the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.
Ep 1 · 7:22
clinical The low risk neuroblastoma group, depending on the actual age of the patient and how it is diagnosed, could potentially be followed simply with observation.
Ep 1 · 7:22
clinical Jed Nocturne led a study through the Children's Oncology Group looking at patients less than six months of age with either a prenatally diagnosed or shortly postnatally diagnosed localized mass, showing these patients can be observed with the expectation that the vast majority will avoid any type of surgical procedure.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical In patients with MS disease, simple observation can be the treatment path.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical Patients with metastatic neuroblastoma typically receive four or five cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then are reassessed.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow (specifically not bone, not cortical bone) and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical If MS disease patients progress or develop respiratory issues because of an enlarging liver mass, treatment might be elected because of the complication of the size of the tumor, but the tumor itself usually does not have to be treated.
Ep 1 · 7:55
quote MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow, specifically not bone, not cortical bone, and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical If the metastatic disease is progressing on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then surgery is not indicated.
Ep 1 · 7:55
clinical If the tumor and metastatic disease are responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, one would attack the primary tumor site with a resection, with many advocating for attempting a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 1 · 8:55
clinical You can biopsy the skin lesions in MS disease and that will give you the diagnosis.
Neuroblastoma 186 entries

Neuroblastoma: Update Course 2014

Ep 2 · 0:34
quote I think that the, the main controversy, at least from my perspective, that still persists is what to do with the high-risk patients.
Ep 2 · 0:34
quote I think that the, the main controversy, at least from my perspective, that still persists is what to do with the high-risk patients.
Ep 2 · 0:42
epidemiological Survival rate for high-risk neuroblastoma patients is in the 38 to 40% range
Ep 2 · 0:42
epidemiological Survival rate for high-risk neuroblastoma patients is in the 38 to 40% range
Ep 2 · 6:31
quote The difference between what a surgeon says they did in the operating room and and what the postoperative imaging says they did in the operating room, and those are not necessarily the same.
Ep 2 · 6:31
quote The difference between what a surgeon says they did in the operating room and and what the postoperative imaging says they did in the operating room, and those are not necessarily the same.
Ep 2 · 6:52
clinical Surgeon-reported degree of resection showed only 66% concordance with radiologist assessment of postoperative imaging in tandem transplant pilot study
Ep 2 · 6:52
clinical Surgeon-reported degree of resection showed only 66% concordance with radiologist assessment of postoperative imaging in tandem transplant pilot study
Ep 2 · 7:33
clinical Repeat study in recent COG high-risk trial showed same 66% concordance rate between surgeon op notes and postoperative imaging, with surgeons underestimating and radiologists overcalling resection completeness
Ep 2 · 7:33
clinical Repeat study in recent COG high-risk trial showed same 66% concordance rate between surgeon op notes and postoperative imaging, with surgeons underestimating and radiologists overcalling resection completeness
Ep 2 · 8:16
quote We don't have a very good definition of what is a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 2 · 8:16
quote We don't have a very good definition of what is a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 2 · 10:00
clinical Memorial Sloan Kettering data suggests biggest volume response of neuroblastoma tumor occurs with first two cycles of chemotherapy, with very little response after that
Ep 2 · 10:00
host_summary Memorial Sloan Kettering data suggests biggest volume response of neuroblastoma tumor occurs with first two cycles of chemotherapy, with very little response after that
Ep 2 · 10:17
quote The more chemotherapy you give or other agents, and now things like MIBG, which is local radiation, um. Uh, that you actually make the tumor more fibrotic, and it makes that technique of getting down on the vessels and splitting it off much more difficult.
Ep 2 · 10:17
opinion More chemotherapy or other agents like MIBG may make tumor more fibrotic and make subadventitial dissection more difficult
Ep 2 · 10:17
quote The more chemotherapy you give or other agents, and now things like MIBG, which is local radiation, um. Uh, that you actually make the tumor more fibrotic, and it makes that technique of getting down on the vessels and splitting it off much more difficult.
Ep 2 · 10:17
opinion More chemotherapy or other agents like MIBG may make tumor more fibrotic and make subadventitial dissection more difficult
Ep 2 · 13:07
epidemiological Complication rate for aggressive neuroblastoma resection is approximately 30% morbidity with mortality less than 1%
Ep 2 · 13:07
epidemiological Complication rate for aggressive neuroblastoma resection is approximately 30% morbidity with mortality less than 1%
Ep 2 · 15:10
clinical High-risk neuroblastoma treatment includes tandem peripheral blood stem cell transplants, with second transplant given as soon as patient recovers from first, followed by immunotherapy and Retin-A
Ep 2 · 15:10
clinical High-risk neuroblastoma treatment includes tandem peripheral blood stem cell transplants, with second transplant given as soon as patient recovers from first, followed by immunotherapy and Retin-A
Ep 2 · 16:48
clinical German study of 278 stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma patients achieved complete resection in almost half and >90% resection in another quarter (75% total with >90% resection)
Ep 2 · 16:48
host_summary German study of 278 stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma patients achieved complete resection in almost half and >90% resection in another quarter (75% total with >90% resection)
Ep 2 · 17:13
host_summary German study showed overall survival 45%, event-free survival 33%, and local progression-free survival 58% in stage 4 neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 17:13
epidemiological German study showed overall survival 45%, event-free survival 33%, and local progression-free survival 58% in stage 4 neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 17:32
clinical German study showed no difference in overall survival, event-free survival, or local progression-free survival based on completeness of resection in stage 4 neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 17:32
host_summary German study showed no difference in overall survival, event-free survival, or local progression-free survival based on completeness of resection in stage 4 neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 17:51
host_summary German study concluded aggressive surgery is not justified in stage 4 neuroblastoma, that limited operations decrease complications, and there is limited impact on patient outcome
Ep 2 · 17:51
guideline German study concluded aggressive surgery is not justified in stage 4 neuroblastoma, that limited operations decrease complications, and there is limited impact on patient outcome
Ep 2 · 18:14
clinical European study included 1,324 high-risk neuroblastoma patients (stages 2, 3, and 4) and achieved 76% with >95% resection
Ep 2 · 18:14
host_summary European study included 1,324 high-risk neuroblastoma patients (stages 2, 3, and 4) and achieved 76% with >95% resection
Ep 2 · 19:02
host_summary European neuroblastoma study showed 0.5% mortality and 10% morbidity (30% including lesser complications)
Ep 2 · 19:02
epidemiological European neuroblastoma study showed 0.5% mortality and 10% morbidity (30% including lesser complications)
Ep 2 · 19:17
clinical European study showed significant improvement in event-free survival and overall survival with aggressive resection in high-risk neuroblastoma - first study to show overall survival benefit
Ep 2 · 19:17
host_summary European study showed significant improvement in event-free survival and overall survival with aggressive resection in high-risk neuroblastoma - first study to show overall survival benefit
Ep 2 · 19:37
quote This is very important to support the aggressive approach that everybody in this room has suggested that they would, uh, that they would pursue. There actually now is some data to support that.
Ep 2 · 19:37
quote This is very important to support the aggressive approach that everybody in this room has suggested that they would, uh, that they would pursue. There actually now is some data to support that.
Ep 2 · 20:17
clinical European study concluded >95% resection results in improvement in event-free survival in high-risk neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 20:17
host_summary European study concluded >95% resection results in improvement in event-free survival in high-risk neuroblastoma
Ep 2 · 21:24
host_summary COG 3973 study of approximately 230 high-risk neuroblastoma patients showed significant improvement in local relapse-free survival and event-free survival but not overall survival
Ep 2 · 21:24
clinical COG 3973 study of approximately 230 high-risk neuroblastoma patients showed significant improvement in local relapse-free survival and event-free survival but not overall survival
Ep 2 · 21:56
opinion COG 3973 study's inability to demonstrate overall survival benefit may be type 2 error due to smaller sample size (230 vs 1,300 patients in European study)
Ep 2 · 21:56
opinion COG 3973 study's inability to demonstrate overall survival benefit may be type 2 error due to smaller sample size (230 vs 1,300 patients in European study)
Ep 2 · 23:30
quote If you're not comfortable taking care of them, you should send them to somebody that is.
Ep 2 · 23:30
quote If you're not comfortable taking care of them, you should send them to somebody that is.
Ep 2 · 23:33
host_summary European neuroblastoma procedures are performed in more than 200 hospitals yet still demonstrated survival improvements
Ep 2 · 23:33
clinical European neuroblastoma procedures are performed in more than 200 hospitals yet still demonstrated survival improvements
Ep 2 · 24:03
clinical Older data shows worse survival in neuroblastoma when kidney is removed, likely because single kidney limits chemotherapy dosing
Ep 2 · 24:03
host_summary Older data shows worse survival in neuroblastoma when kidney is removed, likely because single kidney limits chemotherapy dosing
Ep 2 · 24:52
quote If you can't be informed, be opinionated
Ep 2 · 24:52
quote If you can't be informed, be opinionated
Ep 2 · 25:38
clinical Immunotherapy is effective in neuroblastoma in the setting of minimal residual disease
Ep 2 · 25:38
clinical Immunotherapy is effective in neuroblastoma in the setting of minimal residual disease

Neuroblastoma

Ep 3 · 2:11
clinical Other differential diagnoses for suprarenal mass include neuroblastoma, pulmonary sequestration below the diaphragm, and misdiagnosed renal anomaly
Ep 3 · 2:11
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common differential diagnosis for prenatal suprarenal mass, more common with history of fetal stress
Ep 3 · 6:02
guideline MIBG scan is the next step if catecholamines are elevated
Ep 3 · 6:02
opinion Radiologists are quite good at identifying adrenal hemorrhage on ultrasound
Ep 3 · 8:14
clinical In perinatal phase, most common metastatic sites are liver, bone, skin, and lymph nodes
Ep 3 · 8:44
guideline Nocktern study data supports observation of prenatal neuroblastoma with careful ultrasound surveillance
Ep 3 · 12:27
clinical Case report: child with observed prenatal adrenal mass that resolved presented at age 3 with widely metastatic high-risk neuroblastoma
Ep 3 · 12:27
quote The only caution I would raise is that we had a case of a child who presented with exactly this scenario, was observed, the adrenal mass went away and age at age three she presented with widely metastatic high risk neuroblastoma.
Ep 3 · 16:36
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma is not as important for therapy changes as in Wilms tumor
Ep 3 · 17:58
clinical Primary concern in stage MS with liver involvement is mass effect causing respiratory compromise
Ep 3 · 17:58
quote The most common thing that we worry about is is the mass, is the mass effect of the tumor in the liver, which can be really dramatic and causes respiratory compromise.
Ep 3 · 19:06
opinion Classic findings of stage MS (high catecholamines, blue blebs on skin, liver metastasis, adrenal mass) may not require biopsy
Ep 3 · 25:06
epidemiological 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG avid
Ep 3 · 25:06
clinical PET scan may detect metastases in MIBG-negative neuroblastomas

Topics in 10: Neuroblastoma

Ep 5 · 0:41
clinical When neuroblastoma patients have metastatic disease, they may present with either bony pain or potentially neurologic symptoms from cord compression.
Ep 5 · 0:41
quote So in the younger patients, they're oftentimes picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids, say two-year-old or three-year-old, it might be picked up as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 5 · 0:41
clinical In younger patients, neuroblastoma is often picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids (two-year-old or three-year-old) as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 5 · 0:41
quote So in the younger patients, they're oftentimes picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids, say two-year-old or three-year-old, it might be picked up as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 5 · 0:41
clinical In younger patients, neuroblastoma is often picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids (two-year-old or three-year-old) as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 5 · 0:41
clinical When neuroblastoma patients have metastatic disease, they may present with either bony pain or potentially neurologic symptoms from cord compression.
Ep 5 · 1:07
clinical When considering neuroblastoma as part of the differential diagnosis, it is important to get catecholamines (either urine or serum) as one of the most diagnostic laboratory tests for this tumor.
Ep 5 · 1:07
clinical When considering neuroblastoma as part of the differential diagnosis, it is important to get catecholamines (either urine or serum) as one of the most diagnostic laboratory tests for this tumor.
Ep 5 · 1:39
clinical Most children with suspected neuroblastoma would get a cross-sectional imaging study, either a CT scan or an MRI.
Ep 5 · 1:39
clinical If imaging suggests neuroblastoma (central abdominal mass or adrenal mass rather than kidney mass), the next test would be a nuclear medicine study, typically an MIBG study.
Ep 5 · 1:39
clinical The MIBG study is helpful for confirming the diagnosis of neuroblastoma and can also demonstrate metastatic disease.
Ep 5 · 1:39
clinical The MIBG study is helpful for confirming the diagnosis of neuroblastoma and can also demonstrate metastatic disease.
Ep 5 · 1:39
clinical If imaging suggests neuroblastoma (central abdominal mass or adrenal mass rather than kidney mass), the next test would be a nuclear medicine study, typically an MIBG study.
Ep 5 · 1:39
clinical Most children with suspected neuroblastoma would get a cross-sectional imaging study, either a CT scan or an MRI.
Ep 5 · 2:20
clinical About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 5 · 2:20
quote About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 5 · 2:20
quote About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 5 · 2:20
clinical Some centers, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, would get a PET scan looking for tumor uptake as well as potential metastatic disease.
Ep 5 · 2:20
clinical Some centers, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, would get a PET scan looking for tumor uptake as well as potential metastatic disease.
Ep 5 · 2:20
clinical About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 5 · 2:45
guideline There is a special category MS for children less than 18 months of age who have metastases to either the bone marrow or the skin.
Ep 5 · 2:45
guideline In the INRGSS system, tumors that are localized are categorized as L1; if localized but have image-defined risk factors (encasing nerves or vessels), they are L2; if they have metastatic disease, they are M.
Ep 5 · 2:45
guideline Based on the most recent iteration of the neuroblastoma staging system (INRGSS), it is possible to assign a stage before any invasive procedure is performed.
Ep 5 · 2:45
guideline There is a special category MS for children less than 18 months of age who have metastases to either the bone marrow or the skin.
Ep 5 · 2:45
guideline In the INRGSS system, tumors that are localized are categorized as L1; if localized but have image-defined risk factors (encasing nerves or vessels), they are L2; if they have metastatic disease, they are M.
Ep 5 · 2:45
guideline Based on the most recent iteration of the neuroblastoma staging system (INRGSS), it is possible to assign a stage before any invasive procedure is performed.
Ep 5 · 3:36
guideline The INRGSS pre-biopsy staging system was specifically created to allow studies from different centers in different countries to be compared based on the pre-surgical staging of the patient.
Ep 5 · 3:36
guideline The prior neuroblastoma staging system required tissue diagnosis before assigning a stage.
Ep 5 · 3:36
guideline The INRGSS pre-biopsy staging system was specifically created to allow studies from different centers in different countries to be compared based on the pre-surgical staging of the patient.
Ep 5 · 3:36
guideline The prior neuroblastoma staging system required tissue diagnosis before assigning a stage.
Ep 5 · 4:06
clinical A child with an adrenal mass on the right side and a positive MIBG scan but no evidence of metastases could potentially be treated with a primary resection of the mass via laparotomy.
Ep 5 · 4:06
clinical A child with an adrenal mass on the right side and a positive MIBG scan but no evidence of metastases could potentially be treated with a primary resection of the mass via laparotomy.
Ep 5 · 4:06
opinion Some surgeons would approach resection of a localized neuroblastoma with laparoscopy depending on the size of the tumor.
Ep 5 · 4:06
opinion Some surgeons would approach resection of a localized neuroblastoma with laparoscopy depending on the size of the tumor.
Ep 5 · 4:44
clinical For very large masses that encase the aorta, cava, or other major vasculature, all you really want is tissue for diagnosis, which can be obtained through open biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, or core needle biopsies done by an interventional radiologist.
Ep 5 · 4:44
clinical For very large masses that encase the aorta, cava, or other major vasculature, all you really want is tissue for diagnosis, which can be obtained through open biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, or core needle biopsies done by an interventional radiologist.
Ep 5 · 5:14
clinical The most important biologic risk determinant to obtain from neuroblastoma biopsy tissue is the NMIC status.
Ep 5 · 5:14
clinical In addition to NMIC status, you want to look for 1P and 11Q deletions and Shimada histology in neuroblastoma biopsy tissue.
Ep 5 · 5:14
clinical The most important biologic risk determinant to obtain from neuroblastoma biopsy tissue is the NMIC status.
Ep 5 · 5:14
clinical In addition to NMIC status, you want to look for 1P and 11Q deletions and Shimada histology in neuroblastoma biopsy tissue.
Ep 5 · 5:45
clinical Biologic risk determinants from biopsy will tell you what risk category the patient falls into: very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk.
Ep 5 · 5:45
epidemiological Neuroblastoma risk is divided about 50-50 between the low risk categories and the high risk category, with a smaller percentage being intermediate risk.
Ep 5 · 5:45
epidemiological Neuroblastoma risk is divided about 50-50 between the low risk categories and the high risk category, with a smaller percentage being intermediate risk.
Ep 5 · 5:45
clinical Biologic risk determinants from biopsy will tell you what risk category the patient falls into: very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk.
Ep 5 · 6:11
quote NMIC and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 5 · 6:11
clinical NMIC amplification and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 5 · 6:11
clinical Patients with high risk neuroblastoma receive aggressive chemotherapy including peripheral stem cell transplant times 2, aggressive surgery with the goal of greater than 90% resection of the tumor, followed by radiation, immunotherapy after chemotherapy, and potentially retinoic acid therapy.
Ep 5 · 6:11
clinical Patients with high risk neuroblastoma receive aggressive chemotherapy including peripheral stem cell transplant times 2, aggressive surgery with the goal of greater than 90% resection of the tumor, followed by radiation, immunotherapy after chemotherapy, and potentially retinoic acid therapy.
Ep 5 · 6:11
clinical NMIC amplification and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 5 · 6:11
quote NMIC and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 5 · 6:51
clinical For intermediate risk neuroblastoma, the goal at the time of debulking or resecting the primary tumor is to achieve at least a 50% response from the initial volume of the primary tumor through the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.
Ep 5 · 6:51
clinical For intermediate risk neuroblastoma, the goal at the time of debulking or resecting the primary tumor is to achieve at least a 50% response from the initial volume of the primary tumor through the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.
Ep 5 · 6:51
clinical Intermediate risk neuroblastoma tumors get varying cycles of chemotherapy based on the biologic risk factors they have.
Ep 5 · 6:51
clinical Intermediate risk neuroblastoma tumors get varying cycles of chemotherapy based on the biologic risk factors they have.
Ep 5 · 7:22
clinical Jed Nocturne led a study through the Children's Oncology Group looking at patients less than six months of age with either a prenatally diagnosed or shortly postnatally diagnosed localized mass, showing these patients can be observed with the expectation that the vast majority will avoid any type of surgical procedure.
Ep 5 · 7:22
clinical The low risk neuroblastoma group, depending on the actual age of the patient and how it is diagnosed, could potentially be followed simply with observation.
Ep 5 · 7:22
clinical The low risk neuroblastoma group, depending on the actual age of the patient and how it is diagnosed, could potentially be followed simply with observation.
Ep 5 · 7:22
clinical Jed Nocturne led a study through the Children's Oncology Group looking at patients less than six months of age with either a prenatally diagnosed or shortly postnatally diagnosed localized mass, showing these patients can be observed with the expectation that the vast majority will avoid any type of surgical procedure.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical Patients with metastatic neuroblastoma typically receive four or five cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then are reassessed.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical In patients with MS disease, simple observation can be the treatment path.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow (specifically not bone, not cortical bone) and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical If the metastatic disease is progressing on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then surgery is not indicated.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical If the tumor and metastatic disease are responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, one would attack the primary tumor site with a resection, with many advocating for attempting a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical If MS disease patients progress or develop respiratory issues because of an enlarging liver mass, treatment might be elected because of the complication of the size of the tumor, but the tumor itself usually does not have to be treated.
Ep 5 · 7:55
quote MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow, specifically not bone, not cortical bone, and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical If MS disease patients progress or develop respiratory issues because of an enlarging liver mass, treatment might be elected because of the complication of the size of the tumor, but the tumor itself usually does not have to be treated.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow (specifically not bone, not cortical bone) and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical If the metastatic disease is progressing on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then surgery is not indicated.
Ep 5 · 7:55
quote MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow, specifically not bone, not cortical bone, and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical Patients with metastatic neuroblastoma typically receive four or five cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then are reassessed.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical If the tumor and metastatic disease are responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, one would attack the primary tumor site with a resection, with many advocating for attempting a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 5 · 7:55
clinical In patients with MS disease, simple observation can be the treatment path.
Ep 5 · 8:55
clinical You can biopsy the skin lesions in MS disease and that will give you the diagnosis.
Ep 5 · 8:55
clinical You can biopsy the skin lesions in MS disease and that will give you the diagnosis.

Neuroblastoma

Ep 6 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 6 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 6 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 6 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 6 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 6 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 6 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 6 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 6 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 6 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 6 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 6 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 6 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 6 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 6 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 6 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 6 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 6 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 6 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 6 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings
Ep 6 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 6 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings

Update Course Rewind: Highlighting Collaboration from Surgery & Interventional Radiology in the OR 2024

Ep 20 · 2:12
clinical A hybrid OR is not required for image-guided surgery; collaboration can occur in regular ORs with ultrasound machines or in dual settings where patients go to interventional radiology for localization then to the OR.
Ep 20 · 2:12
clinical A hybrid OR is not required for image-guided surgery; collaboration can occur in regular ORs with ultrasound machines or in dual settings where patients go to interventional radiology for localization then to the OR.
Ep 20 · 2:17
quote So it's important to understand that you don't have to have a hybrid OR to be able to do this type of collaboration.
Ep 20 · 2:17
quote So it's important to understand that you don't have to have a hybrid OR to be able to do this type of collaboration.
Ep 20 · 3:15
quote And I think this is technology that many people have and don't realize that they have available at their institutions even if they're not. Do it within a hybrid OR space.
Ep 20 · 3:15
clinical Cone beam CT technology is available at many institutions even if they don't have a hybrid OR space, though people may not realize they have it.
Ep 20 · 3:15
quote And I think this is technology that many people have and don't realize that they have available at their institutions even if they're not. Do it within a hybrid OR space.
Ep 20 · 3:15
clinical Cone beam CT technology is available at many institutions even if they don't have a hybrid OR space, though people may not realize they have it.
Ep 20 · 5:40
clinical During neuroblastoma excisions when dissecting near the aorta, ultrasound can be used every 5 minutes to identify the celiac takeoff and reorient the surgeon.
Ep 20 · 5:40
clinical During neuroblastoma excisions when dissecting near the aorta, ultrasound can be used every 5 minutes to identify the celiac takeoff and reorient the surgeon.
Ep 20 · 5:52
clinical Ultrasound can be used at the end of cases to confirm vessel patency, such as looking at flow in kidney transplants, portal flow after Mesorex bypass, or renal flow after challenging neuroblastoma excisions where the renal hilum has been skeletonized.
Ep 20 · 5:52
clinical Ultrasound can be used at the end of cases to confirm vessel patency, such as looking at flow in kidney transplants, portal flow after Mesorex bypass, or renal flow after challenging neuroblastoma excisions where the renal hilum has been skeletonized.
Ep 20 · 6:19
clinical Pulmonary nodule localization can be done with wire, coil, or dye depending on institutional preference.
Ep 20 · 6:19
clinical Pulmonary nodule localization can be done with wire, coil, or dye depending on institutional preference.
Ep 20 · 6:35
clinical At one institution (Laurie), pulmonary nodule localization is performed in two locations: first in pre-op CT where interventional radiologists use CT guidance to place a coil next to the nodule, then in the OR using fluoroscopy under two orthogonal planes to ensure accurate nodule identification and removal.
Ep 20 · 6:35
clinical At one institution (Laurie), pulmonary nodule localization is performed in two locations: first in pre-op CT where interventional radiologists use CT guidance to place a coil next to the nodule, then in the OR using fluoroscopy under two orthogonal planes to ensure accurate nodule identification and removal.
Ep 20 · 6:56
clinical Using coil localization combined with dye eliminates the risk of wire displacement.
Ep 20 · 6:56
clinical Using coil localization combined with dye eliminates the risk of wire displacement.
Ep 20 · 7:38
clinical Vascular malformations are often managed in multidisciplinary VLC clinics where interventional radiologists offer sclerotherapy and pediatric surgeons offer resection, but sometimes a combination approach is best.
Ep 20 · 7:38
clinical Vascular malformations are often managed in multidisciplinary VLC clinics where interventional radiologists offer sclerotherapy and pediatric surgeons offer resection, but sometimes a combination approach is best.
Ep 20 · 7:52
clinical For vascular malformations not amenable to sclerotherapy alone, interventional radiologists can perform angiography, directly inject contrast, and place glue to ensure complete resection of small outpouchings or legs.
Ep 20 · 7:52
clinical For vascular malformations not amenable to sclerotherapy alone, interventional radiologists can perform angiography, directly inject contrast, and place glue to ensure complete resection of small outpouchings or legs.

Topics in 10: Neuroblastoma

Ep 3 · 0:41
quote So in the younger patients, they're oftentimes picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids, say two-year-old or three-year-old, it might be picked up as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 3 · 0:41
quote So in the younger patients, they're oftentimes picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids, say two-year-old or three-year-old, it might be picked up as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 3 · 0:41
clinical When neuroblastoma patients have metastatic disease, they may present with either bony pain or potentially neurologic symptoms from cord compression.
Ep 3 · 0:41
clinical In younger patients, neuroblastoma is often picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids (two-year-old or three-year-old) as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 3 · 0:41
clinical When neuroblastoma patients have metastatic disease, they may present with either bony pain or potentially neurologic symptoms from cord compression.
Ep 3 · 0:41
clinical In younger patients, neuroblastoma is often picked up either prenatally on ultrasound, or in younger kids (two-year-old or three-year-old) as a solid abdominal mass.
Ep 3 · 1:07
clinical When considering neuroblastoma as part of the differential diagnosis, it is important to get catecholamines (either urine or serum) as one of the most diagnostic laboratory tests for this tumor.
Ep 3 · 1:07
clinical When considering neuroblastoma as part of the differential diagnosis, it is important to get catecholamines (either urine or serum) as one of the most diagnostic laboratory tests for this tumor.
Ep 3 · 1:39
clinical The MIBG study is helpful for confirming the diagnosis of neuroblastoma and can also demonstrate metastatic disease.
Ep 3 · 1:39
clinical Most children with suspected neuroblastoma would get a cross-sectional imaging study, either a CT scan or an MRI.
Ep 3 · 1:39
clinical If imaging suggests neuroblastoma (central abdominal mass or adrenal mass rather than kidney mass), the next test would be a nuclear medicine study, typically an MIBG study.
Ep 3 · 1:39
clinical Most children with suspected neuroblastoma would get a cross-sectional imaging study, either a CT scan or an MRI.
Ep 3 · 1:39
clinical The MIBG study is helpful for confirming the diagnosis of neuroblastoma and can also demonstrate metastatic disease.
Ep 3 · 1:39
clinical If imaging suggests neuroblastoma (central abdominal mass or adrenal mass rather than kidney mass), the next test would be a nuclear medicine study, typically an MIBG study.
Ep 3 · 2:20
quote About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 3 · 2:20
clinical Some centers, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, would get a PET scan looking for tumor uptake as well as potential metastatic disease.
Ep 3 · 2:20
clinical About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 3 · 2:20
quote About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 3 · 2:20
clinical About 10% of neuroblastomas are MIBG negative.
Ep 3 · 2:20
clinical Some centers, including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, would get a PET scan looking for tumor uptake as well as potential metastatic disease.
Ep 3 · 2:45
guideline Based on the most recent iteration of the neuroblastoma staging system (INRGSS), it is possible to assign a stage before any invasive procedure is performed.
Ep 3 · 2:45
guideline There is a special category MS for children less than 18 months of age who have metastases to either the bone marrow or the skin.
Ep 3 · 2:45
guideline In the INRGSS system, tumors that are localized are categorized as L1; if localized but have image-defined risk factors (encasing nerves or vessels), they are L2; if they have metastatic disease, they are M.
Ep 3 · 2:45
guideline Based on the most recent iteration of the neuroblastoma staging system (INRGSS), it is possible to assign a stage before any invasive procedure is performed.
Ep 3 · 2:45
guideline There is a special category MS for children less than 18 months of age who have metastases to either the bone marrow or the skin.
Ep 3 · 2:45
guideline In the INRGSS system, tumors that are localized are categorized as L1; if localized but have image-defined risk factors (encasing nerves or vessels), they are L2; if they have metastatic disease, they are M.
Ep 3 · 3:36
guideline The prior neuroblastoma staging system required tissue diagnosis before assigning a stage.
Ep 3 · 3:36
guideline The INRGSS pre-biopsy staging system was specifically created to allow studies from different centers in different countries to be compared based on the pre-surgical staging of the patient.
Ep 3 · 3:36
guideline The prior neuroblastoma staging system required tissue diagnosis before assigning a stage.
Ep 3 · 3:36
guideline The INRGSS pre-biopsy staging system was specifically created to allow studies from different centers in different countries to be compared based on the pre-surgical staging of the patient.
Ep 3 · 4:06
opinion Some surgeons would approach resection of a localized neuroblastoma with laparoscopy depending on the size of the tumor.
Ep 3 · 4:06
clinical A child with an adrenal mass on the right side and a positive MIBG scan but no evidence of metastases could potentially be treated with a primary resection of the mass via laparotomy.
Ep 3 · 4:06
opinion Some surgeons would approach resection of a localized neuroblastoma with laparoscopy depending on the size of the tumor.
Ep 3 · 4:06
clinical A child with an adrenal mass on the right side and a positive MIBG scan but no evidence of metastases could potentially be treated with a primary resection of the mass via laparotomy.
Ep 3 · 4:44
clinical For very large masses that encase the aorta, cava, or other major vasculature, all you really want is tissue for diagnosis, which can be obtained through open biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, or core needle biopsies done by an interventional radiologist.
Ep 3 · 4:44
clinical For very large masses that encase the aorta, cava, or other major vasculature, all you really want is tissue for diagnosis, which can be obtained through open biopsy, laparoscopic biopsy, or core needle biopsies done by an interventional radiologist.
Ep 3 · 5:14
clinical In addition to NMIC status, you want to look for 1P and 11Q deletions and Shimada histology in neuroblastoma biopsy tissue.
Ep 3 · 5:14
clinical The most important biologic risk determinant to obtain from neuroblastoma biopsy tissue is the NMIC status.
Ep 3 · 5:14
clinical In addition to NMIC status, you want to look for 1P and 11Q deletions and Shimada histology in neuroblastoma biopsy tissue.
Ep 3 · 5:14
clinical The most important biologic risk determinant to obtain from neuroblastoma biopsy tissue is the NMIC status.
Ep 3 · 5:45
epidemiological Neuroblastoma risk is divided about 50-50 between the low risk categories and the high risk category, with a smaller percentage being intermediate risk.
Ep 3 · 5:45
clinical Biologic risk determinants from biopsy will tell you what risk category the patient falls into: very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk.
Ep 3 · 5:45
epidemiological Neuroblastoma risk is divided about 50-50 between the low risk categories and the high risk category, with a smaller percentage being intermediate risk.
Ep 3 · 5:45
clinical Biologic risk determinants from biopsy will tell you what risk category the patient falls into: very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk.
Ep 3 · 6:11
clinical NMIC amplification and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 3 · 6:11
clinical Patients with high risk neuroblastoma receive aggressive chemotherapy including peripheral stem cell transplant times 2, aggressive surgery with the goal of greater than 90% resection of the tumor, followed by radiation, immunotherapy after chemotherapy, and potentially retinoic acid therapy.
Ep 3 · 6:11
clinical Patients with high risk neuroblastoma receive aggressive chemotherapy including peripheral stem cell transplant times 2, aggressive surgery with the goal of greater than 90% resection of the tumor, followed by radiation, immunotherapy after chemotherapy, and potentially retinoic acid therapy.
Ep 3 · 6:11
quote NMIC and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 3 · 6:11
quote NMIC and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 3 · 6:11
clinical NMIC amplification and age greater than 18 months are the most important prognostic determinants for neuroblastoma.
Ep 3 · 6:51
clinical For intermediate risk neuroblastoma, the goal at the time of debulking or resecting the primary tumor is to achieve at least a 50% response from the initial volume of the primary tumor through the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.
Ep 3 · 6:51
clinical Intermediate risk neuroblastoma tumors get varying cycles of chemotherapy based on the biologic risk factors they have.
Ep 3 · 6:51
clinical Intermediate risk neuroblastoma tumors get varying cycles of chemotherapy based on the biologic risk factors they have.
Ep 3 · 6:51
clinical For intermediate risk neuroblastoma, the goal at the time of debulking or resecting the primary tumor is to achieve at least a 50% response from the initial volume of the primary tumor through the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection.
Ep 3 · 7:22
clinical The low risk neuroblastoma group, depending on the actual age of the patient and how it is diagnosed, could potentially be followed simply with observation.
Ep 3 · 7:22
clinical The low risk neuroblastoma group, depending on the actual age of the patient and how it is diagnosed, could potentially be followed simply with observation.
Ep 3 · 7:22
clinical Jed Nocturne led a study through the Children's Oncology Group looking at patients less than six months of age with either a prenatally diagnosed or shortly postnatally diagnosed localized mass, showing these patients can be observed with the expectation that the vast majority will avoid any type of surgical procedure.
Ep 3 · 7:22
clinical Jed Nocturne led a study through the Children's Oncology Group looking at patients less than six months of age with either a prenatally diagnosed or shortly postnatally diagnosed localized mass, showing these patients can be observed with the expectation that the vast majority will avoid any type of surgical procedure.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow (specifically not bone, not cortical bone) and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical If the metastatic disease is progressing on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then surgery is not indicated.
Ep 3 · 7:55
quote MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow, specifically not bone, not cortical bone, and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical In patients with MS disease, simple observation can be the treatment path.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical If MS disease patients progress or develop respiratory issues because of an enlarging liver mass, treatment might be elected because of the complication of the size of the tumor, but the tumor itself usually does not have to be treated.
Ep 3 · 7:55
quote MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow, specifically not bone, not cortical bone, and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical In patients with MS disease, simple observation can be the treatment path.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical Patients with metastatic neuroblastoma typically receive four or five cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then are reassessed.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical If the tumor and metastatic disease are responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, one would attack the primary tumor site with a resection, with many advocating for attempting a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical If the metastatic disease is progressing on neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then surgery is not indicated.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical MS disease is specifically for patients who have a primary site with metastatic disease to the liver, the skin, or the bone marrow (specifically not bone, not cortical bone) and is less than 18 months of age.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical Patients with metastatic neuroblastoma typically receive four or five cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and then are reassessed.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical If MS disease patients progress or develop respiratory issues because of an enlarging liver mass, treatment might be elected because of the complication of the size of the tumor, but the tumor itself usually does not have to be treated.
Ep 3 · 7:55
clinical If the tumor and metastatic disease are responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, one would attack the primary tumor site with a resection, with many advocating for attempting a greater than 90% resection.
Ep 3 · 8:55
clinical You can biopsy the skin lesions in MS disease and that will give you the diagnosis.
Ep 3 · 8:55
clinical You can biopsy the skin lesions in MS disease and that will give you the diagnosis.

Neuroblastoma

Ep 5 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 5 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 5 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 5 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 5 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 5 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 5 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 5 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 5 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 5 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 5 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 5 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 5 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 5 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 5 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 5 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 5 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 5 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 5 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings
Ep 5 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 5 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 5 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings

Update Course Rewind: Highlighting Collaboration from Surgery & Interventional Radiology in the OR 2024

Ep 12 · 2:12
clinical A hybrid OR is not required for image-guided surgery; collaboration can occur in regular ORs with ultrasound machines or in dual settings where patients go to interventional radiology for localization then to the OR.
Ep 12 · 2:17
quote So it's important to understand that you don't have to have a hybrid OR to be able to do this type of collaboration.
Ep 12 · 3:15
quote And I think this is technology that many people have and don't realize that they have available at their institutions even if they're not. Do it within a hybrid OR space.
Ep 12 · 3:15
clinical Cone beam CT technology is available at many institutions even if they don't have a hybrid OR space, though people may not realize they have it.
Ep 12 · 5:40
clinical During neuroblastoma excisions when dissecting near the aorta, ultrasound can be used every 5 minutes to identify the celiac takeoff and reorient the surgeon.
Ep 12 · 5:52
clinical Ultrasound can be used at the end of cases to confirm vessel patency, such as looking at flow in kidney transplants, portal flow after Mesorex bypass, or renal flow after challenging neuroblastoma excisions where the renal hilum has been skeletonized.
Ep 12 · 6:19
clinical Pulmonary nodule localization can be done with wire, coil, or dye depending on institutional preference.
Ep 12 · 6:35
clinical At one institution (Laurie), pulmonary nodule localization is performed in two locations: first in pre-op CT where interventional radiologists use CT guidance to place a coil next to the nodule, then in the OR using fluoroscopy under two orthogonal planes to ensure accurate nodule identification and removal.
Ep 12 · 6:56
clinical Using coil localization combined with dye eliminates the risk of wire displacement.
Ep 12 · 7:38
clinical Vascular malformations are often managed in multidisciplinary VLC clinics where interventional radiologists offer sclerotherapy and pediatric surgeons offer resection, but sometimes a combination approach is best.
Ep 12 · 7:52
clinical For vascular malformations not amenable to sclerotherapy alone, interventional radiologists can perform angiography, directly inject contrast, and place glue to ensure complete resection of small outpouchings or legs.

Aerodigestive & Esophageal Surgery - Difficult Tracheal Esophageal Fistula

Ep 4 · 9:58
clinical If a patient is aspirating from above (oropharyngeal or esophageal source), an anti-reflux procedure does not help and may make them worse.
Ep 4 · 14:02
clinical Routine bronchoscopy is now standard practice for all type C TEF repairs at Cincinnati Children's, often done in collaboration with ENT colleagues.
Ep 4 · 19:37
clinical Dual scoping (simultaneous bronchoscopy and esophagoscopy) allows scopes to 'shake hands' across a fistula, light transillumination through tissue, and injection of saline or air to reveal subtle openings.
Ep 4 · 55:54
quote Button batteries are bad.
Ep 4 · 56:27
quote The tissue damage extends beyond what you can appreciate with the naked eye, and the progression of it probably extends beyond what you would think is the normal time frame.
Ep 4 · 1:52:36
clinical In a patient with multiple bronchoesophageal fistulas and chronic bronchiectasis, lobectomy with resection of the esophageal pseudo-diverticulum can be performed safely; the esophagus can be primarily closed if not strictured.

Tracheoesophageal Fistula with Dr. Daniel von Allmen

Ep 6 · 1:36
quote It certainly is an interest that we have here with a whole group here in Cincinnati, but it can be an incredibly difficult, challenging problem. It's one of the great cases in pediatric surgery and one of the most difficult cases, so it really runs the whole spectrum for sure.
Ep 6 · 2:01
clinical Cincinnati Children's has a multidisciplinary aerodigestive center including ENT airway surgeons, GI, pulmonary, general surgeons, nurse practitioners, geneticists, and dietitians
Ep 6 · 2:46
clinical The aerodigestive center typically receives more complicated patients referred from outside through either esophageal or airway arms
Ep 6 · 3:55
clinical Physical examination should assess for scaphoid versus full or distended abdomen and respiratory distress
Ep 6 · 4:20
quote I personally like to try to pass the NG tube myself, having been burned with NG tubes that wouldn't go down, and the patient was started on treatment as an oesophageal atresia and subsequently found that the NG tube passes just fine.
Ep 6 · 4:20
clinical The surgeon should personally attempt to pass the NG tube rather than relying on nursing reports, as tubes reported as not passing sometimes pass easily
Ep 6 · 4:55
clinical Injecting air into the NG tube and obtaining a plain film helps visualize proximal pouch distention and assess distal GI gas pattern
Ep 6 · 5:01
clinical Lack of visible distended proximal pouch raises concern for either incorrect diagnosis or presence of proximal fistula allowing pouch decompression
Ep 6 · 5:01
quote If I can't see a distended proximal pouch, then I worry. I worry that either one of two things either that the diagnosis is incorrect and in fact it is not an esophageal atresia, or that there could be a proximal fistula which is allowing that proximal pouch to decompress.
Ep 6 · 5:42
clinical Contrast studies can be performed if there is high suspicion of unusual anatomy, as long as the radiologist knows the esophagus may be obstructed
Ep 6 · 6:25
clinical Echocardiogram is the most important preoperative study to assess cardiac anatomy and rule out right-sided aortic arch
Ep 6 · 6:25
quote The most important one prior to taking the patient to the operating room is to get an echocardiogram, and the utility of that is, is obviously to assess the cardiac anatomy, but more as importantly, I would say is to assess to be sure that the patient does not have a right-sided aortic arch.
Ep 6 · 6:54
clinical Renal ultrasound and spine evaluation for tethered cord are needed but are elective and not necessary before addressing esophageal atresia
Ep 6 · 7:27
guideline Conventional wisdom is to perform left thoracotomy for right-sided aortic arch
Ep 6 · 7:51
clinical Left thoracotomy for right-sided arch is somewhat more difficult with the heart more in the way and harder proximal pouch mobilization
Ep 6 · 8:20
clinical It is possible to complete the repair from the right side if right-sided arch is discovered intraoperatively, though some reports suggest higher incidence of swallowing problems
Ep 6 · 9:31
clinical In a stable larger baby not intubated, it is reasonable to wait until all resources are available in the middle of the day, even waiting 1-2 days
Ep 6 · 9:56
clinical Should not wait a long time before repair due to risk of colonizing GI tract and soiling lungs
Ep 6 · 10:15
quote I've not found personally that an oscillator makes a whole lot of difference. I think if the child has a, has a large fistula, and typically it's actually, I believe this tends to be a bigger problem in younger, that is more premature infants who have more significant lung disease, and their compliance of their lungs is really what drives the The air into the GI tract as opposed to into the lungs.
Ep 6 · 10:15
clinical Large fistula with distention tends to be a bigger problem in more premature infants with significant lung disease, where poor lung compliance drives air into GI tract
Ep 6 · 10:15
opinion Oscillator ventilation does not make a significant difference in managing large fistulas with abdominal distention
Ep 6 · 10:56
clinical Treating with surfactant and improving lung compliance helps as much as changing ventilator type
Ep 6 · 11:21
quote I think this is a difficult clinical scenario, and, and I think one of the risks is to wait too long to make a decision, and I've made that mistake myself, and then it becomes an emergency if you can't ventilate the child.
Ep 6 · 11:21
clinical Risk of waiting too long to make a decision in worsening distention can lead to emergency situation where child cannot be ventilated
Ep 6 · 12:00
clinical For reasonably stable but worsening distention, would take child urgently to OR for right thoracotomy and fistula ligation
Ep 6 · 12:00
clinical G-tube decompression may paradoxically worsen ventilation by making stomach lower resistance, allowing more air to go there instead of lungs
Ep 6 · 12:00
opinion Bronchoscopic Fogarty balloon placement sounds good but is difficult unless expertise and equipment are immediately available
Ep 6 · 12:00
quote Decompressing the stomach may just allow that to become, in effect, the even lower resistance and allow more air to go there, making it even more difficult to ventilate. You relieve the abdominal distention, but you don't fix the flow of gas from the Trachea to the GI tract as opposed to from the trachea to the lungs.
Ep 6 · 12:50
clinical Laparotomy with vessel loop around esophagogastric junction at hiatus with gentle traction (Rommel tourniquet technique) can temporize severe cases, leaving in place for several days before definitive repair
Ep 6 · 13:36
clinical For associated duodenal atresia in stable child, would potentially fix duodenal atresia first to avoid fixing esophagus upstream from obstruction
Ep 6 · 14:05
clinical Both duodenal and esophageal atresia could potentially be fixed at same time if child is old enough and stable enough
Ep 6 · 14:35
quote We have seen that many times in patients who are referred who've had multiple thoracotomies. Nobody ever did a bronchoscopy and the child actually has a laryngeal cleft
Ep 6 · 14:35
clinical Von Allmen changed practice to always perform intraoperative bronchoscopy after exposure to Cincinnati's complex patient population
Ep 6 · 14:35
clinical Bronchoscopy documents fistula location, assesses for proximal fistula, and most importantly rules out laryngeal cleft which is easily missed
Ep 6 · 14:35
clinical Many referred patients with multiple thoracotomies never had bronchoscopy and actually have laryngeal cleft
Ep 6 · 14:35
quote That is one of the things that I have changed in my management after coming here and having exposure to the patient population that we see, the complex patients that we see with the esophageal center and the neurodigestive center, and The airway surgeons here have convinced me that it is really important to do a bronchoscopy
Ep 6 · 15:35
epidemiological Second fistula occurs in approximately 1% of cases and can be very difficult to diagnose
Ep 6 · 15:52
clinical High fistulas can range from trifurcation of carina (suggesting difficulty getting ends together) to very high fistulas potentially approachable through neck
Ep 6 · 16:35
clinical Bronchoscopy allows guidance of ET tube placement by anesthesiologist based on fistula location
Ep 6 · 16:35
clinical For fistula at carina (trifurcation), ET tube should be placed higher as it cannot pass the fistula; for high fistula, tube should be placed distal to fistula but not into the fistula itself
Ep 6 · 17:19
quote I do an extra plural approach and that's the way I was trained. I think it offers the advantage of potentially limiting any soilage of the plural space if there is a leak postoperatively.
Ep 6 · 17:19
clinical Extrapleural approach offers advantage of potentially limiting soilage of pleural space if there is postoperative leak
Ep 6 · 17:41
quote I think there's no morbidity associated with that, so dividing the azygus gives you better access. In fact, frequently will guide you to the fistula.
Ep 6 · 17:41
clinical Dividing azygos has no morbidity, gives better access, and frequently guides to the fistula
Ep 6 · 17:59
clinical Open azygos division is done by ligation and division; thoracoscopically can use energy devices or clips
Ep 6 · 18:51
opinion 3mm surgical sealer is ideal device for this size patient and vessel
Ep 6 · 18:51
clinical Hook cautery can safely divide vessels if done slowly going up and down to ensure coagulation, learned from robotic Nissen experience dividing short gastrics
Ep 6 · 18:51
quote It is amazing what you can divide with the electric cautery, with the hook electric cautery if you just get used to it, and I learned that doing actually robotic Nissans that you can divide the short gastrics in a teenager with the with the hook electric cautery.
Ep 6 · 19:35
clinical Important to mobilize pleura up around apex of lung to have access for proximal pouch mobilization
Ep 6 · 19:35
clinical Spreading heel of right angle on ribs nicely shows extrapleural plane when going through intercostal muscles
Ep 6 · 19:35
clinical After azygos division, identify distal esophagus and control with vessel loop, then dissect proximally to identify fistula site
Ep 6 · 20:28
opinion Muscle-sparing thoracotomy can make exposure more difficult; has not seen significant morbidity from standard posterolateral thoracotomy
Ep 6 · 21:10
clinical Standard teaching has been not to mobilize distal esophagus, but can actually mobilize it significantly especially laterally all the way to diaphragm
Ep 6 · 21:10
clinical Must be careful with medial mobilization of distal esophagus due to blood supply concerns
Ep 6 · 21:10
quote I think we have learned that, you know, the standard teaching has been that you shouldn't mobilize the distal esophagus at all, and I think we've learned that in fact you can mobilize that segment a fair amount, especially laterally.
Ep 6 · 21:10
opinion Thoracoscopic approach advantage is clearer visualization for proximal pouch mobilization
Ep 6 · 21:10
clinical Extensive proximal pouch mobilization gives the most length to get ends together
Ep 6 · 22:20
quote I completely agree, and I think that you have to be very careful. I personally like to just use a blade, electric cautery and with a little buzz and then mostly blunt dissection with the flat end of the blade, and I think that. That can help you and staying right on the esophagus, which is usually very thickened because it's an obstructed piece of bowel. I would rather be in the esophagus than be in the trachea up high in the chest.
Ep 6 · 22:20
clinical Better to be in esophagus than trachea during high chest dissection; esophagus is thickened from obstruction
Ep 6 · 22:20
clinical Risk of entering trachea during proximal dissection; must be very careful using blade cautery with light buzz and mostly blunt dissection with flat end of blade
Ep 6 · 23:01
clinical For significant tracheal defect, could perform sleeve resection as trachea is incredibly mobile, then place pericardium or autologous tissue between trachea and esophageal repair
Ep 6 · 23:59
opinion Personal preference is 5-0 PDS - absorbable monofilament suture; not a fan of silk
Ep 6 · 24:42
opinion Not a fan of myotomies as they potentially create even more dysfunctional esophageal segment; motility is already clearly abnormal in esophageal atresia
Ep 6 · 24:42
clinical For cases too tight for primary repair, would ligate ends, tack both on tension to prevertebral fascia, close, let patient grow for couple weeks, then return to put together
Ep 6 · 24:42
quote I personally am not a big fan of myotomy. I think it. Potentially creates an even more dysfunctional segment of the esophagus than already exists. The motility is clearly abnormal in patients with oesophageal atresia, and doing a myotomy just makes that problem worse.
Ep 6 · 25:38
clinical Traction or pressure is very strong stimulus to growth throughout cardiovascular system and lungs
Ep 6 · 25:38
quote I believe very firmly in the physiology of traction or pressure. Actually it's sort of the reverse, is a very strong stimulus to growth all over the place in the cardiovascular system in the lungs
Ep 6 · 26:10
opinion Would not do classic Foker technique with prolonged paralysis and sequential suture tensioning
Ep 6 · 26:10
clinical For thoracoscopic approach, can place traction sutures in proximal and distal ends brought out through crossed trocar sites with tension, allowing return within a week for anastomosis
Ep 6 · 27:38
clinical Foker technique requires patients intubated and paralyzed spending weeks in ICU, which is probably worth it if you get good result
Ep 6 · 27:38
quote They published a series a year ago or so in JPS looking at their results, and, and it was a very carefully well documented report of their results, and the data are striking if you Have a patient who has a primary atresia that you address, then in 98% of patients they're able to get the two ends of the esophagus together. In contrast, if it's a patient who's had previous surgeries and it's a secondary approach, then only 2/3 of those patients ever get the esophagus together.
Ep 6 · 27:38
epidemiological Rusty Jennings and Foker published series in JPS showing 98% success getting ends together in primary atresia versus only 67% in secondary approaches after previous surgeries
Ep 6 · 29:18
clinical Standard port placement: camera in center, posterior port inferiorly, anterior port superiorly
Ep 6 · 29:18
clinical For thoracoscopic procedure, rotate patient past 90 degrees to allow gravity to move lungs out of way
Ep 6 · 29:52
clinical Uses 3mm instruments for thoracoscopic TEF repair
Ep 6 · 30:10
quote I think as with most minimally invasive operations, I think it's important to do the same operation or at least the same quality operation that you would do open and Frankly, I think that's one of the challenges with the thoracoscopic repair of a TEF is to actually sew the anastomosis.
Ep 6 · 30:10
quote I'm less worried about them falling off the esophagus than I am having them fall off a blood vessel.
Ep 6 · 30:10
opinion Thoracoscopic visualization is very helpful for mobilizing proximal pouch
Ep 6 · 30:10
opinion Simulation courses for TEF repair will be great advantage for trainees as these cases are not done often enough to get practice
Ep 6 · 30:10
opinion Would use clips for dividing fistula thoracoscopically, less worried about them falling off esophagus than blood vessel
Ep 6 · 30:10
clinical Sewing the anastomosis is one of the challenges with thoracoscopic TEF repair and requires most experience with minimally invasive techniques
Ep 6 · 30:10
opinion Important to do same quality operation thoracoscopically as would do open
Ep 6 · 31:37
host_summary Atlanta group uses stay stitch between two ends brought out of chest to hold anastomosis up for subsequent stitches, similar to duodenal atresia technique
Ep 6 · 34:30
quote I think it's more dependent on the anesthesiologist than it is on the type of ventilator, and you have to have an anesthesiologist who's comfortable with doing this and understands what you're trying to accomplish and is paying attention while you're actually doing the operation because they can either help you a lot or hurt you a lot with how they ventilate the child.
Ep 6 · 34:30
clinical Thoracoscopic ventilation management depends more on anesthesiologist than ventilator type; need anesthesiologist comfortable with procedure who pays attention during operation
Ep 6 · 35:20
clinical Little CO2 insufflation with some time will collapse lung as long as anesthesiologist isn't fighting with positive pressure
Ep 6 · 35:20
clinical Anesthesiologists can get scared seeing initial shunting but things settle down if they wait
Ep 6 · 36:05
clinical If patient had good lung function preoperatively and operation went smoothly, advocate extubating as soon as possible, even conceivably in operating room
Ep 6 · 36:05
clinical Concern about reintubation exists, but equally concerned that positive pressure puts pressure on tracheal repair
Ep 6 · 36:05
quote I agree it is a concern that the patient may require reintubation. However, I'm equally concerned that positive pressure is putting pressure on my tracheal repair, and I would much rather have the patient be breathing spontaneously to have, in fact, the opposite effect of a negative pressure in the trachea.
Ep 6 · 36:05
opinion Prefer spontaneous breathing with negative pressure in trachea rather than positive pressure
Ep 6 · 36:35
clinical Uses small TLS drain rather than formal chest tube, especially for open extrapleural approach
Ep 6 · 36:35
clinical Gets contrast study at 5-7 days before pulling chest drain, timing depends on avoiding weekends
Ep 6 · 36:35
quote I do honestly, I'm a little bit old school in that. I still get an esophagram. I usually wait for about 5 days.
Ep 6 · 37:20
clinical Does not use transanastomotic tube based on Midwest Pediatric Surgical Consortium study showing much higher stricture and leak rate with transanastomotic tubes
Ep 6 · 37:20
quote I do not actually. I again, a practice of mine that has changed based on our results from the Midwest Pediatric Surgical Consortium study in which the patients who Had a trans anastomotic tube had a much higher stricture and leak rate than patients that did not have that.
Ep 6 · 37:37
clinical Midwest consortium study was presented at APSA and should be published in JPS soon
Ep 6 · 37:55
quote Unless it's an incredibly tight stricture, I would wait several weeks before doing a dilation unless I was worried there was going to be a complete obstruction.
Ep 6 · 37:55
quote There's always reported a narrowing because the proximal pouch is always dilated, so it always looks like there's a narrowing at the anastomosis. As long as it's patent and contrast flows freely down the distal esophagus, I would hold off on. Uh, dialing it, dilating it probably several weeks if possible.
Ep 6 · 37:55
clinical Always appears to be narrowing at anastomosis because proximal pouch is dilated; as long as patent with free contrast flow distally, would hold off on dilation
Ep 6 · 37:55
clinical Unless incredibly tight stricture risking complete obstruction, would wait several weeks before first dilation
Ep 6 · 38:23
clinical If case goes well and post-op study looks great, does not get routine follow-up esophagrams; studies based on clinical symptoms suggesting stricture
Ep 6 · 38:23
clinical Huge spectrum from very tight strictures requiring many dilations to kids fine after one dilation
Ep 6 · 38:23
clinical Fairly aggressive with dilations: dilate, wait 1-2 weeks, restudy, potentially dilate again
Ep 6 · 39:19
clinical Dilations done with GI colleagues in aerodigestive center for bigger kids or with interventional radiologists
Ep 6 · 39:19
clinical Balloon or radial dilation is less traumatic for tissue than bougie dilators
Ep 6 · 39:19
quote I think that again, having trained using bougie dilators, a balloon or radial dilation is, is less traumatic for the tissue
Ep 6 · 39:51
quote I would absolutely wait and do nothing. I would leave the drain in and usually that presents with some saliva in the drain, and I would just wait, and the vast majority of those close.
Ep 6 · 39:51
clinical For small leak with child not sick, would absolutely wait and do nothing, leaving drain in; vast majority close
Ep 6 · 40:09
clinical Would only go to OR for leak if child getting sicker, wide open leak, or large uncontrollable pneumothorax
Ep 6 · 40:09
clinical Even reasonably significant leaks will heal, then can deal with stricture postoperatively
Ep 6 · 40:34
clinical Usually waits one week between esophagrams for leak; if child continues to do well, restudies
Ep 6 · 40:34
clinical Sometimes little outpouching where leak happened makes it unclear if still leaking; if nothing from tube and nothing goes further, leak probably healed and would remove tube
Ep 6 · 41:19
clinical Patients in their 20s-40s at international meeting discuss long-term issues; surgeons tend to follow until eating well or age 18 then never see them again
Ep 6 · 41:19
clinical International esophageal atresia meeting occurs every 2 years and is multidisciplinary including patients
Ep 6 · 41:19
quote I think that first of all I would make the comment that that's a great point and it's interesting to participate in the International oesophageal atresia. A meeting that occurs every 2 years and to go and see the patients because that meeting is multidisciplinary, including even patients, and you see these patients who come back who are in their 20s or 30s or 40s and they talk about the long term issues that they have and we tend to follow patients until they're, you know, until they're eating well and then they're gone
Ep 6 · 41:19
opinion Have a lot to learn about long-term complications; personally follows patients for at least couple years which is probably not long enough
Ep 6 · 42:15
quote The patients that worry me more honestly are the patients who have ongoing reflux, and we don't know the long term impact of that on things like Barrett's esophagus and Potential long term risk for malignant change and those sorts of things.
Ep 6 · 42:15
clinical Biggest challenges in long-term follow-up are reflux and recurrent strictures
Ep 6 · 42:15
clinical More concerning are patients with ongoing reflux due to unknown long-term impact on Barrett's esophagus and potential malignant change
Ep 6 · 42:45
clinical Virtually all patients have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux
Ep 6 · 42:45
quote If I have a patient who has a stricture that's been dilated 2 or 3 times, my next move would be to address reflux. Most of the patients we leave on anti-reflux medications when they are discharged from the hospital. I would argue that virtually all patients have some degree of gastroesophageal reflux. If they have a stricture that is not responsive to dilations, it dilates easily and then restrictures. I personally am very aggressive about doing a fundoplication on those patients
Ep 6 · 42:45
clinical If patient has stricture dilated 2-3 times, next move would be to address reflux
Ep 6 · 42:45
clinical Most patients left on anti-reflux medications when discharged from hospital
Ep 6 · 42:45
clinical Very aggressive about fundoplication for strictures not responsive to dilations (dilates easily then restrictures)
Ep 6 · 43:26
clinical For pure esophageal atresia, approach is G-tube placement with calibration of gap length using distal catheter pushed up and NG tube in proximal pouch
Ep 6 · 43:26
clinical Does Nissen fundoplication in patients with poor esophageal motility but makes them loose and short, using 2 or at most 3 stitches
Ep 6 · 43:26
clinical Would wait 4-6 weeks to see how close ends come together, then attempt primary repair once within 2 vertebral bodies
Ep 6 · 43:26
quote I do, but as with most Nissans, I make them loose and I make them short, so I usually use two or at most 3 stitches for the wrap and make sure that it is loose around the distal esophagus.

Treatment for Long Gap Esophageal Atresia: Esophageal Elongation and Replacement

Ep 7 · 0:46
clinical At Cincinnati Children's, if a child has no gas in the abdomen, they place a G-tube and may put something up the distal esophagus for a fluoro shot, then wait a couple of weeks for a protocol gap measurement in interventional radiology.
Ep 7 · 0:46
quote Our method here is that if we have a child with no gas in the abdomen and we take them to the OR and put a G-tube in, many times we'll do, we'll put something up the distal esophagus at that point and just get a fluoro shot. But then we'd wait a couple of weeks and we have our patients go down to interventional radiology where we have a protocol for measuring the gap.
Ep 7 · 2:10
clinical The philosophy of traction-based elongation is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow, and if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 7 · 2:10
quote But the philosophy here is that with traction, you can get the two ends of the esophagus to grow. And if you can get them to grow far enough, you can put them together.
Ep 7 · 2:10
quote The physiology, which I believe in intensely, is that stretch is a very strong promoter of growth. And then if you put things on tension, they will actually grow over time. That's how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 7 · 2:10
clinical Stretch is a very strong promoter of growth, and if you put things on tension they will actually grow over time, which is how the cardiovascular system develops in utero.
Ep 7 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, about two thirds of patients with primary repair were able to get full oral nutrition and about 10% of patients who had secondary repair achieved full oral nutrition.
Ep 7 · 3:15
quote There was a great article published by the Boston Group 2015. Divides the cases into two groups, a primary group and a secondary group. Secondary being patients who had had operations previously in the primary group, being cases that they saw de novo.
Ep 7 · 3:15
quote Obviously, you look at the result of getting the esophagus together and intact esophagus in 96% of patients in the primary group, about two thirds of patients in the secondary group.
Ep 7 · 3:15
quote But these procedures are not without some morbidity. And you look at the ICU stay is a median of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed for the primary group and 110 days for the secondary group with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 7 · 3:15
quote About two thirds of patients with the primary repair were able to get the full oral nutrition and about 10% of the patients who had the secondary repair.
Ep 7 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group (de novo cases) achieved an intact esophagus in 96% of patients, while the secondary group (patients with previous operations) achieved this in about two thirds of patients.
Ep 7 · 3:15
host_summary In the Boston Group 2015 study, the primary group had a median ICU stay of 70 days with a couple of weeks being paralyzed, and the secondary group had a median ICU stay of 110 days with a month of being paralyzed.
Ep 7 · 4:36
quote You can actually use the colon as an interposition as well. I personally was trained to do colon interpositions.
Ep 7 · 4:36
host_summary The surgical group from INOEA recommends gastric pull up as the first option for esophageal replacement, dividing the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilizing the fundus to pull it up in either the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 7 · 4:36
clinical The colon can be used as an interposition for esophageal replacement.
Ep 7 · 4:36
quote You could use the stomach. That would be called a gastric transposition. The surgical group from the INOEA, their recommendation, the recommendation for the first option is a gastric pull up.
Ep 7 · 4:36
quote You divide the esophageal stump at the esophageal hiatus and mobilize the fundus and pull the fundus up and you can pull it up either in the anterior or posterior mediastinum.
Ep 7 · 8:00
quote Common problems with this are that they dilate and they can become tortuous. It's not uncommon to get kind of a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 7 · 8:00
clinical Common problems with colonic interposition are that the colon can dilate and become tortuous, and it's not uncommon to get a sigmoid sink drain deformity just above the diaphragm.
Ep 7 · 8:17
clinical Von Allman passes the colonic interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine, allowing mobilization of the colon by dividing the gastric duodenotomy and colon attachment to the stomach, then mobilizing the sigmoid redundancy transhiatally and reanastomosing the colon to the stomach.
Ep 7 · 8:17
opinion Colonic interpositions sometimes need to be revised, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 7 · 8:17
opinion Von Allman was initially taught that sigmoid redundancy in colonic interposition can't be fixed and that it's too dangerous because it will risk the blood supply, but he found that this is not really true.
Ep 7 · 8:17
quote I was taught initially that you can't fix that and that it's too dangerous and that you'll risk the blood supply to the colon interposition. But I found that actually that's not really true.
Ep 7 · 8:17
quote I pass the interposition posterior to the stomach, which leaves the vascular pedicle along the spine. And you can mobilize the colon. You can divide the gastric dual aporotomy, divide the colon attachment to the stomach, and then mobilize that sigmoid redundancy transhiatally, and then reinestimose the colon to the stomach.
Ep 7 · 8:17
quote So I wouldn't pretend to say that these don't need to be revised sometimes, but it is not impossible to revise them and the kids tend to do pretty well.
Ep 7 · 9:03
clinical You can get extraordinary length with colonic interposition, allowing treatment of cases with caustic injuries extending to the pharynx by sewing the colon to the pharynx and down to the stomach, which is tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 7 · 9:03
quote You can get extraordinary length on this. And Mike and I have done a few cases for kids who had disasters, multiple operations elsewhere, who had caustic injuries that were involved all the way up to the pharynx, where we had to do a lot of work just on the pharynx to get that open, and then literally sew the colon interposition to the pharynx and then down to the stomach, which is obviously tough to do with a gastric pull-up.
Ep 7 · 9:56
quote I don't think we know we should do the studies to understand that. But I would say that this gets back to David van der Zee's comment about, go have a cup of coffee and come back and it'll be fine. Clearly, that's not growth, that's stretch.
Ep 7 · 9:56
opinion Von Allman states we don't know whether esophageal elongation is growth or stretch and should do studies to understand that, but notes that tension is a very good physiologic growth promoter in other organs, making this an area ripe for more basic science.
Ep 7 · 9:56
quote And yet there's very good physiologic data that tension is a growth promoter, not necessarily in the esophagus, but in other organs. So I think that it's an area ripe for a little more basic science.
Wilms Tumor 22 entries

Neuroblastoma

Ep 9 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 9 · 2:00
clinical Adrenal hemorrhage is the most common cause of prenatal suprarenal mass, especially with history of fetal stress
Ep 9 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 9 · 7:24
clinical The GetNucturne study showed that prenatal/neonatal neuroblastomas can be safely observed with careful ultrasound surveillance, with many patients spared surgery
Ep 9 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 9 · 14:21
clinical Lymph node status in neuroblastoma does not change therapy, unlike Wilms tumor
Ep 9 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 9 · 22:12
clinical Approximately 10% of neuroblastomas are not MIBG-avid, which is when PET scan may be useful
Ep 9 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 9 · 43:17
clinical Tumor shrinkage in neuroblastoma plateaus after cycle 2-3 of chemotherapy per LaQuaglia and Von Allman studies
Ep 9 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 9 · 44:04
clinical COG high-risk study showed >90% resection improved event-free survival but not overall survival (approximately 245 patients)
Ep 9 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 9 · 45:28
clinical European neuroblastoma group study (approximately 1000 cases) showed >90% resection improved both event-free survival and overall survival
Ep 9 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 9 · 46:10
epidemiological Approximately 70% of high-risk neuroblastoma patients can achieve >90% resection
Ep 9 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 9 · 50:54
clinical Neuroblastoma theoretically does not invade vessel adventitia, though invasion has been observed
Ep 9 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.
Ep 9 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings
Ep 9 · 51:30
clinical There is zero correlation between surgeon operative note description of resection extent and post-operative imaging findings
Ep 9 · 51:30
quote There is zero correlation, zero. There is absolutely no correlation between the findings on post-op imaging and the findings that are reported in the op note.