Tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia (H-type TEF) is a congenital anomaly that is characterized by a fistula between the posterior wall of the trachea and the anterior wall of the esophagus, not accompanied by esophageal atresia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic time, the side of cervical approach and short term result after surgery by searching medical records of patients treated for H-type TEF. The search was done at University of Ulsan, Department of Pediatric Surgery of Asan Medical Center, and the total number of patients from May 1989 to December 2010 was 9 with M:F ratio of 1:2. The median gestational age was 39(+6) (32(+6)~41(+0)) wks. Seven out of nine patients were born at term and the other two were born premature. The clinical presentation was aspiration pneumonia, difficulty in feeding, chronic cough, vomiting, abdominal distension and growth retardation. The symptoms presented right after birth. The diagnosis was made with esophagography and the median time of diagnosis was 52 days of life. The majority of surgical corrections were performed within two weeks of diagnosis (median; 15d, range; 1d - 6m). Six patients had associated anomalies, and cardiac anomalies were most common. The cervical approach was utilized in all cases (right 2, left 7). Transient vocal cord palsy and minor esophageal leakage complicated two cases. Although the diagnosis of H-type TEF was difficult and often delayed, we had a good short term result. The left cervical approach was preferred.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been utilized in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients with severe respiratory failure unresponsive to conventional medical treatment. We retrospectively reviewed 12 CDH patients who were treated using ECMO in our center between April 2008 and February 2011. The pre ECMO and on ECMO variables analyzed included gestational age, sex, birth weight, age at the time of ECMO cannulation, arterial blood gas analysis results, CDH location, timing of CDH repair operation, complications and survival. There were 9 boys and 3 girls. All patients were prenatally diagnosed. Mean gestational age was 38.8 ± 1.7 weeks and mean birth weight was 3031 ± 499 gram. Mean age at the time of ECMO cannulation was 29.9 ± 28.9 hours. There were 4 patients who survived. Survivors showed higher 5 min Apgar scores (8.25 ± 0.96 vs. 7.00 ± 1.20, p=0.109), higher pre ECMO mean pH (7.258 ± 0.830 vs. 7.159 ± 0.986, p=0.073) and lower pre ECMO PaCO2 (48.2 ± 7.9 vs. 64.8 ± 16.1, p=0.109) without statistical significance. The hernia was located on the left side in 10 patients and the right side in 2 patients. The time interval from ECMO placement to operative repair was about 3~4 days in 5 early cases and around 24 in the remaining cases. There were 3 cases of post operative bleeding requiring re operation and 2 cases of abdominal compartment syndrome requiring abdominal fascia reopening. ECMO catheter reposition was required in 4 cases. Three cases of arterial or venous thrombosis were detected and improved with follow up. Our data suggests that ECMO therapy could save the lives of some neonates with CDH who can not be maintained on other treatment modalities. Protocolized management and accumulation of case experience might be valuable in improving outcomes for neonates with CDH treated with ECMO.

Currarino syndrome is a hereditary syndrome characterized by the triad of a sacral bony defect, presacral mass and anorectal malformation. We retrospectively reviewed 13 Currarino syndrome patients who were treated in our center between 1997 and 2010. Demographic data, initial symptoms, initial diagnosis, pathologic diagnosis of presacral mass, associated anomalies and managements were analyzed. There were 8 boys and 5 girls. Four patients were diagnosed as Currarino syndrome immediately after birth with failure of passage of meconium and abdominal distension. Four patients underwent surgery for imperforate anus immediately after birth and were diagnosed as Currarino syndrome later and underwent reoperation. Three patients were diagnosed during work-up and management with of the tentative diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. Diagnosis of the remaining two patients was at the age of 26 months and 9 years and anorectal malformation was not associated. Twelve patients showed hemi-sacrum and one patient showed bilateral sacral subtotal agenesis. Two patients without anorectal malformation underwent presacral mass excision, untethering of spinal cord and repair of myelomeningocele. Six out of 8 patients, excluding 3 that expired or were lost to follow up, with anorectal malformation underwent colostomy, presacral mass excision, untethering of spinal cord, repair of myelomeningocele, posterior sagittal anorectoplasty and colostomy repair. One patient underwent only posterior sagittal anorectoplasty after colostomy. One waits the scheduled operation only with Hegar dilatation. Pathologic examation of presacral masses showed myelomeningoceles in 4 patients, lipomyelomeningoceles in 3 patients and dermoid cyst in one patient. Teratoma was combined in 2 patients. Eight patients needed neurosurgical operation for spinal cord problems. Seven patients had urologic anomalies and two of them underwent operation. Currarino syndrome should be considered as a differential diagnosis in pediatric patients with abdominal distension, constipation and anorectal malformation. For proper evaluation and treatment, a multi-disciplinary approach is recommended.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) has various clinical presentations and due to the limitation of imaging studies, pre-operative diagnosis is a challenge in pediatric patients. Recently, laparoscopic exploration has been suggested as a favorable method for the diagnosis and treatment of complicated MD. We investigated the results of laparoscopic-assisted surgery compared with open technique. We retrospectively studied patients who underwent resection of complicated MD at our institute from 1997 to 2010 and compared 11 treated by laparoscopic-assisted diverticulectomy (LD) with 11 treated by open diverticulectomy (OD) for complicated MD. Operation time was not significantly different in the two groups. Hospital stay and time to diet were not significantly different. Two patients were re-admitted due to mechanical ileus in the LD group. None of patients in either group needed re-operation. Considering the possibility of false-positive results with imaging studies and the cosmetic benefit, laparoscopic-assisted surgery is a safe and effective treatment modality to diagnose and treat complicated Meckel's diverticulum.

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a rare congenital malformation of the lower respiratory tract. The anomaly is characterized by absence of communication with the tracheobronchial tree and isolated blood supply from an anomalous systemic vessels. With the utilization of antenatal ultrasound, the diagnosis of asymptomatic neonatal PS has increased. Treatment options include observation, arterial embolization and surgical resection. The aim of the present study is to review the clinical course of PS and to share our experience with thoracoscopic resection. A total of 96 patients with PS were treated at Asan Children's Hospital between 1999 and 2010. The diagnosis of PS was established by CT in the cases managed by observation or embolization, and by tissue pathology in the surgical cases. Medical records and radiographic images were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-nine patients were managed by embolization and 30 patients by surgery. The remaining 27 patients have been under observation without any procedures. Among 27 observation patients, 1 patient regressed completely and 10 patients were lost to follow up. Of the 39 embolizations patients, 2 had their lesion regress and sepsis was suspected after embolization. In 1 patient, the microcoil migrated to the iliac artery during the embolization procedure, and another patient developed renal abscess caused by renal artery embolization. Among 30 surgical cases, resection by thoracotomy was performed in 27 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, and thoracoscopic resection in 3 at the Division of Pediatric Sugery. Only one wound complication ocurred. We conclud that surgical excision should be recommended for pulmonary sequestration, whether the sequestration is symptomatic or not because of the risk of infection, the low rate of natural regress, poor compliance, severe complications after embolization, and to exclude other pathology. In summary, thoracoscopic resection of the pulmonary sequestration is feasible, efficacious, safe and cosmetically superior even in neonatal period.

Malignant ovarian tumors in children are very rare, and consist of about 1% of all childhood malignant tumors. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis for children with malignant ovarian tumors. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children under 15 years of age with malignant ovarian tumors who had been treated surgically at Asan Medical Center between 1989 and March 2009. There were 32 patients, ranged in age at surgery from 2 to 15 years (mean; 10.4 years). The median follow-up period was 64.7 months (from 1 month to 188 months). Pathologic diagnosis were; immature teratoma (n=10), mixed germ cell tumor (n=10), and dysgerminoma (n=6). Tumor stage was classified by the staging system of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). The number of patients in stage I, II, III, and IV were 24 (75%), 2 (6.2%), 4 (12.5%), and 2 (6.1%), respectively. The tumor recurred in 4 patients. Seven patients of group 1 did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and in three of them, the tumor recurred. Twenty-five patients (group 2) underwent postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and there was only one recurrence. One patient who did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and expired 10 months after operation because of tumor recurrence and distant metastasis. The overall 5-year event free survival (EFS) was 84.2%: group 1 in 44.4%, and group 2 in 95.7%. Tumor recurrence was related to the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (p=0.004). In conclusion, proper surgical procedures with relevant postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy might improve clinical results in children with malignant ovarian tumors.

Hickman catheters are tunneled central venous catheters used for long-term venous access in children with malignancies. The appropriate management for various kinds of catheter related complications has become a major issue. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, demographic, and surgical characteristics in 154 pediatric hemato-oncology patients who underwent Hickman catheter insertion between January 2005 and December 2009. There were 92 boys and 62 girls. The mean age at surgery was 7.6±5.1 years old. The mean operation time was 67.4±21.3 minutes and C-arm fluoroscopy was used in 47(30.5%). The causes of Hickman catheter removal were termination of use in 82 (57.3%), catheter related bloodstream infection in 44(30.8%), mechanical malfunction in 11(7.7%), and accidents in 6(4.2%). Univariate and multivariate analysis for associated factors with catheter related bloodstream infection showed that there were no statistically significant associated factors with catheter related infection complications. All cases except two showed clinical improvement with catheter removal and relevant antibiotics treatment. The mean catheter maintenance period in patients of catheter removal without complications was 214.9±140.2 days. And, The mean catheter maintenance period in patients of late catheter related bloodstream infection was 198.0±116.0 days. These data suggest that it is important to remove Hickman catheter as soon as possible after the termination of use. When symptoms and signs of complications were noticed, prompt diagnostic approach and management can lead to clinical improvements.

Pancreatic tumors in children are relatively rare, and their prognosis differs from that in adults. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis for children with pancreatic tumors. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children under 15 years of age with pancreatic tumors who were treated surgically at Asan Medical Center between January 1992 and November 2009. There were 16 patients, fourteen of whom were pathologically diagnosed with solid pseudopapillary tumor. The other two patients were diagnosed with pancreatoblastoma and acinar cell carcinoma, respectively. Six patients of the 16 patients (38%) were male, and there was a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.6. The initial presentations were upper abdominal pain in eight patients (50%), palpable abdominal mass in three, and vomiting in one. Four patients were diagnosed incidentally. Six patients' tumors were located in the pancreatic head, six in the pancreatic body, and four in the pancreatic tail, respectively. The surgical procedures performed included distal pancreatectomy (n=7, 44%), median segmentectomy (n=3), enucleation (n=3), pancreaticoduodenectomy (n=2), and pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (n=1). Three patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. The median tumor size was 6.5cm (1.8~20 cm). Early surgical complications included pancreatic fistula (n=4), bile leakage (n=1), and delayed gastric emptying (n=1). A late complication in one patient was diabetes. The median follow-up period was five years and four months, and all patients survived without recurrence. While pancreatic tumors in adults have a poor prognosis, pancreatic tumors of childhood are usually curative with complete resection and thus have a favorable prognosis.

Although the incidence of esophageal atresia (EA) is higher in twins than in singletons by two to three times, EA usually affects only one member of twins. We report one pair of twins concordant for EA. A 31-year-old healthy woman bore monozygotic female twins at 36 weeks of gestation. They weighed 2,216 and 2,480g, respectively. They had EA with distal tracheoesophageal fistula and underwent primary esophageal anastomosis on the birth day and the 2^nd day of life, respectively. Twin A also had suspicious antral obstruction and pyloroplasty was done simultaneously with esophageal repair. She needed antral web excision for continued gastric stasis one month after 1^st operation and three balloon dilatations of the esophagus. Twin B recovered uneventfully.

No abstract available in English.

Esophageal atresia with double tracheoesophageal fistula is a very rare anomaly and is difficulty to diagnose preoperatively. We treated a full term baby with esophageal atresia with double tracheoesophageal fistula. At the first operation, only the distal tracheoesophageal fistula was identified and ligated. When the upper esophageal pouch was opened, intermittent air leakages in sequence with positive bagging were noticed. However, intraoperative bronchoscopy did not identify a fistula in the proximal pouch, and the operation was completed with end to end anastomosis of the esophagus. On the 7^th postoperative day, esophagography showed another tracheoesophageal fistula proximal to the esophageal anastomosis. A wire was placed in the fistula preoperatively under bronchoscopy. At the 2^nd operation through the same thoracotomy incision the proximal fistula was identified and ligated. On the 12^th postoperative day, esophagography showed neither stricture nor leakage.

Prophylactic contralateral exploration in unilateral inguinal hernia repair is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to analyze the contralateral incidence of hernia and to verify the necessity of the simultaneous contralateral exploration. Infants and children operated on for inguinal hernia or hydrocele at the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Asan Medical Center from January 1996 to December 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 383 patients (9.8 %) out of 3,925 patients underwent a simultaneous bilateral operation. A total of 222 patients (6.2 %) out of 3,542 patients underwent a secondary metachronous contralateral operation after primary unilateral inguinal hernia or hydrocele repair. Because simultaneous bilateral operation cases included true bilateral inguinal hernia or hydrocele, and unilateral hernia and simultaneous contralateral exploration, bilateral incidence of inguinal hernia and hydrocele could be maximally considered as 15.4% (605 patients). Therefore, the prophylactic contralateral exploration in unilateral inguinal hernia or hydrocele should be determined carefully in considering history and physical examination of the patients, and postoperative complications.

Recently, the survival rates of extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants have improved with the development of neonatal intensive care. However, these infants were susceptible to intestinal perforation due to prematurity, fluid restriction, and injection of indomethacin, etc. Because of the risks of transportation, anesthesia and surgery itself, peritoneal drainage has been compared with laparotomy. Through our experience, we investigate the usefulness of peritoneal drainage retrospectively. From 1997 to 2007, six ELBW (M:F=5:1) underwent primary peritoneal drainage for intestinal perforation. Their median birth weight was 685 g (405~870) and gestational age was 25⁺¹ weeks (24⁺³~27⁺⁰). We noticed the intestinal perforation at median 10.5 days (8~18) after birth, and placed Penrose drain or Jackson-Pratt drain through right lower quadrant incision under local anesthesia. The cause of intestinal perforation was necrotizing enterocolitis in one patient, but that of the others was not clear. Three patients who showed normal platelet count and stable vital signs recovered uneventfully. Two patients (birth weight less than 500 g) who showed unstable vital signs and low platelet count (12,000 / mm³ to 30,000 / mm³) expired despite aggressive resuscitation. One patient required laparotomy due to persistent intestinal obstruction after drain removal and survived. Our experience shows that peritoneal drainage was an acceptable treatment for ELBW infants and the prognosis was related to vital sign and platelet count at the time of intestinal perforation, and birth weight.

There is significant morbidity and mortality associated with the combination of esophageal atresia (EA) and duodenal atresia (DA). Nevertheless, the management protocol for the combined anomalies is not well defined. The aim of this study is to review our experience with the combined anomalies of EA and DA. From May 1989 to August 2006, seven neonates were diagnosed as EA with DA at Asan Medical Center. In all cases, the type of EA was proximal EA and distal tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). The diagnosis of DA was made in theprenatal period in 1, at birth in 4, 4 days after birth in 1 (2 days after EA repair) and at postmortem autopsy in 1. Except the one case where DA was missed initially, primary simultaneous repair was attempted. DA repair with gastrostomy followed by EA repair in 2, EA repair followed by DA repair without gastrostomy in 2, and TEF ligation followed by DA repair with gastrostomy in 1. There were two deaths. One baby had a large posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia, and operative repair was not attempted. The other infant who had a TEF ligation and DA repair with gastrostomy expired from cardiac failure due to a large patent ductus arteriosus. Simultaneous repair of EA and DA appears to be an acceptable management approach for the combined anomalies, but more experience would be required for the selection of the primary repair of both anomalies.

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign soft tissue tumor occurring in infancy and early childhood. It is characterized by fat lobules with varying degrees of maturity, multivaculoated lipoblasts, fibrocapillary networks and myxoid stroma. Lipoblastoma has a good prognosis with no metastases despite its potential for local invasion. From Jan, 1990 through April, 2007, 12 children underwent the operation for lipoblastoma, 7 boys and 5 girls, diagnosed at median 22 months (5~43 months). Median follow up was 6 year 7 months. Primary sites included back (n=5), intraabdominal (n=2) and one in each of buttock, chest wall, neck, nose and scalp. Tumors presented with a growing mass in 9 patients, abdominal distension in 2, and an incidental finding on chest radiography in one. Complete excisions were done in all patients. There was one recurrence in a patient with a scalp mass. After reoperation, he has been doing well without evidence of recurrence. Lipoblastoma has a favorable prognosis, but recurrence can occur even with complete excision. Regular follow up is necessary to detect recurrences.

Teratomas arising from totipotential primitive germ cell are composed of 2 or 3 germ cell layers. We reviewed the records of 166 children who underwent the operation for teratoma from Jan, 1990 through April, 2007. There were 40 boys and 126 girls (average age 6.93±5.83 years). Primary sites were ovary (n=88), sacrococcygeum (n=24), testis (n=16), retroperitoneum (n=16), mediastinum (n=8), brain (n=4), thymus (n=3) and a single tumor involved the adrenal gland, neck, middle ear, oropharynx, stomach, pelvis, omentum, chest wall and scalp. Teratomas were mature in 141 patients, and immature in 25. Six patients who had ovarian immature teratomas grade 2 or 3 with peritoneal gliomatosis underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. During follow up period, 6 mature teratomas recurred at sacrococcygeal area (n=1) and contralateral ovary (n=5). Five patients of them underwent reoperation and diagnosed as a mature teratoma, but one who had underwent a left salpingooophrectomy with right ovary cystectomy at initial operation was observed carefully. Teratomas were dominant in female patients and developed at various organs. Complete excision was needed for good prognosis. In case of immature teratoma, complete excision and appropriate chemotherapy according to grading can contribute to favorable results.

Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of gastrointestinal tract in children. The incidence of complicated Meckel's diverticulum is about 4%. The major complications of Meckel's diverticulum are bleeding, intussusception, obstruction and perforation. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and the role of laparoscopic surgery in complicated Meckel's diverticulum in children. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 19 patients with complicated Meckel's diverticulum who underwent operation at Asan Medical Center between Jan. 1990 and Apr. 2007. Male to female ratio was 11:8, and median age was 1 year (1 day-13 years). The most frequent symptom was hematochezia (68%), followed by irritability or abdominal pain (16%), vomiting (11%), and abdominal distension (5%). Two operative procedures were performed; small bowel resection with anastomosis (68%) and diverticulectomy (32%). The operation proven complications of the Meckel's diverticulum were bleeding (68%), intussusception (16%), perforation (11%) and obstruction (5%). Ectopic tissues found by postoperative pathologic examination were gastric (84%) and pancreatic (11%). Hospital stay after laparoscopic operation for bleeding Meckel's was 5 days (median) and average first postoperative feeding was 1.5 days. On the contrary, hospital stay for open surgery was 7 days and first feed was 3 days. In summary, the most common compliation of Meckel's diverticulum in children was bleeding and ectopic gastric tissues were present in 84%. Laparoscopic procedure seemed to be useful for diagnosis as well as for definitive treatment.

Fundoplication is accepted as an effective treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The recent results of laparoscopic fundoplication demonstrated safety and less morbidity, shorter hospital stay and less pulmonary complication compared to the open operation. Laparoscopic fundoplication has been our first choice of operation for gastroesophageal reflux disease since 2003. Among 29 cases, there were 2 conversion cases because of severe distension of transverse colon and hepatomegaly. We studied 27 consecutive patients operated upon from January 2003 through December 2004. There were 15 boys and 12 girls, ages from 1.5 months to 12 years (median 25.3 months). Body weight ranged from 2.9 kg to 37 kg (median 9.8 kg). Neurological abnormalities were present in 23 patients. Indications for surgery included medically refractory reflux associated with vomiting, pneumopathy, otorhinolaryngologic pathology, failure to thrive, esophagitis, apnea and bradycardia. We used 4-5 trocars of 5 mm or 12 mm with 30° telescope and performed the Nissen technique in all patients. In neurological impaired patients, gastrostomy tube was placed at the time of fundoplication. Median operative time was 130 minutes (70 - 300 minutes). There was no mortality nor intraoperative complication. Twenty-six patients were followed for median of 19 months (8 - 31 months). Four patients (15.4 %), who were all neurological impaired, developed recurrent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Two of these patients had reoperation (1 laparoscopic approach, 1 open method). There were significant increases in body weight in 11 patients after fundoplication. Laparoscopic fundoplication is acceptable as a safe and effective method for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Chemoport is widely used in pediatric surgery field. But various complications can occur during the process of insertion or removal of chemoport. Surgeons must be familiar with the treatment of these complications. We had one catheter cuts off during chemoport removal, become a catheter embolism. Interventional radiologic removal was successful. Verifying the length of removed catheter and careful observation of the catheter tip during removal procedure is important to prevent the possibility of catheter embolus. Radiologic intervention was accessible to remove the retained catheter.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been increasingly used because of several advantages, less pain, better expectation for cosmesis (requires small incisions), and more rapid recovery compared with open cholecystectomy. Oral intake is tolerated on the day of operation or on the next. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children. Nine cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute and chronic cholecystitis in children were performed at Asan Medical Center between April 2002 and April 2004. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on a total of 10 patients, but one of them was excluded because of the simultaneous splenectomy for sickle cell anemia. Clinical presentation, operative findings, operation time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Mean age was 10.4 (4–15) years, and only 3 of patients were less than 10 years. One patient was female. In 8 the diagnosis was calculous cholecystitis. Mild adhesions were found in 3 cases and intraoperative bile leakage in 2. There was no conversion to open surgery and there were no vascular, bowel, or bile duct injuries. Mean operation time was 82.2 (20–160) minutes ; mean length of hospital stay was 2.1 (1–3) day. There was no postoperative complication. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children was remarkably free of side effects and complications and had a short recovery time. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis is considered to be a standard procedure in children.

There are considerable controversies in the management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. By 1997, early operation, routine chest tube on the ipsilateral side and maintainingrespiratory alkalosis by hyperventilation were our principles (period I). With a transition period from 1998 to 1999, delayed operation with sufficient resuscitation, without routine chest tube, and permissive hypercapnia were adopted as our practice. High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and nitric oxide (NO) were applied, if necessary, since year 2000(period II). Sixty-seven cases of neonatal Bochdalek hernia from 1989 to 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 33 and 34 cases in period I and II, respectively. The neonatal survival rates were 60.6 % and 73.5 %, respectively, but the difference was not significant. In period I, prematurity, low birth weight, prenatal diagnosis, inborn, and associated anomalies were considered as the significant poor prognostic factors, all of which were converted to nonsignificant in period II. In summary, improved survival was not observed in later period. The factors considered to be significant for poor prognosis were converted to be nonsignificant after change of the management principle. Therefore, we recommend delayed operation after sufficient period of stabilization and the avoidance of the routine insertion of chest tube. The validity of NO and HFOV needs further investigation.

VATER association is defined as a combination of 3 or more anomalies-vertebra(V), imperforate anus (A), esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TE), renal and radial anomaly(R). We reviewed our experiences in one center to determine etiology, prevalence, clinical manifestation, other associated anomaly and prognosis. Two hundred and twenty-three cases that underwent operations for imperforate anus or esophageal atresia were analyzed retrospectively through medical records at Department of Pediatric Surgery, Asan Medical Center from June, 1989 to July, 2005. The total number of neonates who had been admitted during period of study were 46,773 and VATER association was 9 (0.019 %, 1.92 persons per 10,000 neonates). Median gestational age and birth weight were 37⁺⁴wk (35⁺¹ – 41⁺⁴) and 2,594 g (1,671–3,660), respectively and median age of mother was 32 years (23–38). There was no family history. Three patients were twins but their counterparts had no anomalies. Patients who have 3 anomalies were 6, 4 anomalies in two and 5 anomalies in one patient. Vertebra anomalies were detected in 7(77.7 %), imperforate anus in 8(88.9 %), esophageal atresia in 5 patients (55.6 %), renal anomaly in 6(66.7 %), and radial anomaly in 5(55.6 %), respectively. Four patients are alive, 2 patients were lost during follow up period. Three patients died due to neonatal sepsis, respiratory dysfunction and cardiac failure. VATER association did not appear to be a definite risk factor, but merely a randomized combination of 5 anomalies. The prognosis was dependent on the other associated anomalies, appropriateness of management and operation. Careful follow-up and aggressive treatmentare required for improving survival and quality of life.

Inguinal hernia is the most common disease treated by the pediatric surgeon. There are several controversial aspects of management 1)the optimal timing of surgical repair, especially for preterm babies, 2)contralateral groin exploration during repair of a clinically unilateral hernia, 3)use of laparoscope in contralateral groin exploration, 4)timing of surgical repair of cord hydrocele, 5)perioperative pain control, 6)perioperative management of anemia. In this survey, we attempted to determine the approach of members of KAPS to these aspects of hernia treatment. A questionnaire by e-mail or FAX was sent to all members. The content of the questionnaire were adapted from the “American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Surgery hernia survey revisited (J Pediatr Surg 40, 1009-1014, 2005)”. For full-term male baby, most surgeons (85.7 %) perform an elective operation as soon as diagnosis was made. For reducible hernia found in ex-preterm infants already discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 76.2 % of surgeons performed an elective repair under general anesthesia (85.8 %). 42.9 % of the surgeons performed the repair just before discharge. For same-day surgery for the ex-premature baby, the opinion was evenly divided. For an inguinal hernia with a contralateral undescended testis in a preterm baby, 61.9 % of surgeons choose to ‘wait and see’ until 12 month of age. The most important consideration in deciding the timing of surgery of inguinal hernia in preterm baby was the existence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (82.4 %), episode of apnea/bradycardia on home monitoring (70.6 %). Most surgeons do not explore the contralateral groin during unilateral hernia repair. Laparoscope has not been tried. Most surgeons do not give perioperative analgesics or blood transfusion.

One day surgery in children has been practiced for last 10 years in this institution. This study is to examine its safety and effectiveness for patients younger than 15 years old treated at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Asan Medical Center, from September. 1996 to December, 2005. A total of 3,709 patients, 37 % of the total pediatric operations, are included in this retrospective study. The most prevalent ages were between 1 and 3 years olds (1,199 patients). Twenty patients were younger than 6 months, and they all had one day surgery safely. Operations were herniorrhaphy in 3,126 patients,followed by excisional biopsy, chemoport removal, and OK 432 injection. There were 12 cases (0.32 %) of unplanned admissions, 7 occurred within 6 months of one day surgery. Perioperative fever was the most common cause of admission in 4 cases. The related conditions of unplanned admission were bleeding in 2 cases and radical surgery in 2. One day surgery in this institution was easily accessible and safe. This is to the result of appropriate selection of patients, cooperation with anesthesiologists, adequate control of postoperative pain, and home care programs.

performed at the time of discharge. There was only one recurrence of adirect inguinal hernia. Necrotizing enterocolitis developed in 17 patients, 11 were operated upon, two had peritoneal drainages, and 9 had enterostomies. Five of 11 surgical infants died after operation and three of the nonsurgical infants died of various complications. Although micropremies have potentially high risks of serious complications and death, the outcome can improve with careful surgical observation and judgment.

Neuroblastoma treatment remains challenging, but has been advanced by the establishment of clinical and biological variables that determine prognostic risks. Initially, stage and age were the prime determinants of survival used in clinical practice. Risk-based therapy currently is the hallmark of neuroblastoma treatment. This study reviewed the results of neuroblastoma in one center. Sixty-three patients with neuroblastoma were treated primarily at our institution from 1989 to 2003. All patients were graded according to the International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) at diagnosis. There were 37 boys and 26 girls. The median age was 2.14 years (range, 33 days-10.2years). The primary site was the adrenal gland in 47, dumbbell shape extended into spinal canal in 6, retroperitoneum in 5, mediastinum in 3, and other sites in 2. The probability of 5-year overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) were 46.7% and 44.2% by Kaplan-Meier method. According to INSS, there were stage 1 in 2, stage 2 in 5, stage 3 in 12, stage 4 in 42, and stage 4s in 2. There were statistically significant differences in the survival rates between patients with stage1, 2 and stage 3, 4(p<0.05). For the stage 3 and 4, the extent of surgical resection determined from the operative records and pathologic reports assessed extent of surgical resection as complete resection, no visible tumor (CR, n=17); minimal residual, visible tumor less than 5% (MR, n=15); partial resection, more residual tumor than MR (PR, n=11). The 5-year OS rate was 57.8, 51.4, and 13.6% for CR, MR, and PR. There is a trend toward higher OS with achieving the completeness of resection (p<0.05). We conclude that age and stage at diagnosis are prognostic factors, and complete excision of the primary tumor can provide better prognosis for patients with stage 3 and 4 neuroblastoma.

Intestinal obstruction secondary to intraabdominal adhesion is a well-known postoperative complication occurring after appendectomy. The aim of this study was to measure the incidence and clinical manifestations of mechanical intestinal obstruction after appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. We reviewed all of the children (age <16 years) who had been treated for appendicitis at Asan Medical Center between January 1996 and December 2001. Inclusion criterion included either gross or microscopic evidence of appendiceal perforation. Exclusion criteria were interval appendectomy, and patients immune compromised by chemotherapy. Associations of intestinal obstruction with age, sex, operation time, and use of peritoneal drains were analyzed. Four hundred and sixty two open appendectomies for appendicitis were performed at our department. One hundred and seventeen children were treated for perforated appendicitis (78 boys, 39 girls). The mean age was 8.9 years (range 1.5 to 14.8 years). There were no deaths. Eight patients were readmitted due to intestinal obstruction, but there was no readmission due to intestinal obstruction in patients with non-perforated appendicitis. The interval between appendectomy and intestinal obstruction varied from 12 days to 2 year 7 months. Four patients needed laparotomies. In three of four, only adhesiolysis was performed. One child needed small bowel resection combined with adhesiolysis. There was no significant association between age or sex and the development of intestinal obstruction. This was no association with operative time or use of peritoneal drain. Patients who required appendectomy for perforated appendicitis have a higher incidence of postoperative intestinal obstruction than those with nonperforated appendicitis. For the patients with perforated appendicitis, careful operative procedures as well as pre and postoperative managements are required to reduce adhesions and subsequent bowel obstruction.

The laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) became popular over the last 10 years. The advantage of LS over open splenectomy (OS) includes short hospital stay, improved cosmesis, less development of postoperative intestinal ileus, and less analgesics required. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of LS at Asan Medical Center from January 1999 to January 2003. The records of 14 consequent children who underwent splenectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Patients characteristics, morbidity, mortality, operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay were analyzed., Seven patients age 5 to 15 years underwent LS under the indications: idiopathic thrombocytic purpura (ITP, n=3), hereditary spherocytosis (n=3), and myelodysplastic syndrome (n=1). Seven patients, age 7 to 16 years, underwent OS during the same period for ITP (n=7). Median operative time was 120 minutes (80 to 170 mins.) in OS, and 270 minutes (110 to 480 mins.) in LS (p<0.05). Median length of hospital stay was 6 days (3 to 8) in OS, and 4 days (3 to 6) in LS (p>0.05). Median splenic length was 12.0 cm (9.2 to 18.0) in OS, 14.0 cm (10.0 to 19.5) (p>0.05). Accessory spleens were identified in 3 of 7 LS and 1 of 7 OS cases. In the LS group, there was no conversion to open surgery. Two patients in LS required blood transfusion postoperatively. LS in children can be performed as effectively and safely as OS.

This study reviews 14 years' experience of esophageal atresia with special emphasis on the clinical profile and the outcome. From May 1989 to February 2003, 65 cases of esophageal atresia (EA) were treated at Asan Medical Center. Boys outnumbered girls 2.4 to 1. Prematutity and low birth weight were 27.7% and 38.5%. Esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) was the most common type (87.7%), followed by pure EA and H type fistula. Forty-six patients (70.8%) had one or more associated anomalies, cardiac malformations were the most common. Duodenal atresia was found in 7 cases. There were 6 patients (9.2%) with VATER cluster. VACTERL cluster was present in 18 patients (27.7%), one of who fulfilled the complete syndrome. Waterston group A, B and C made up 21.5%, 40.0% and 38.5% of the total group. Surgical treatment was attempted in 63 patients and deferred in 2 who had severe associated malformations. For EA with distal TEF, primary esophago-esophagostomy was carried out in 51 cases, and division of TEF and gastrostomy in 4 cases and no operation in 2 cases. For pure EA, colonic graft was done in 2 after gastrostomy and esophagostomy, and esophago-esophagostomy was performed in 2 after gastrostomy. Two TEF was carried out in 2 cases with H type TEF. The overall survival rate was 76.9%, and survival by Waterstuon classification was 100% in group A, 80.8% in B and 60.0% in C. Thorough workup for associated anomalies, interdepartmental approach and more careful surgical decision and technique are required to improve the outcome of EA.

Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in childhood. Open techniques have been adopted in children after experiences in various surgical conditions in adults has accumulated. It is debatable whether Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is superior to open appendectomy (OA) in children. The goal of this study is to review the results of laparoscopy and laparotomy in the nonperforated appendicitis. The records of 22 patients under 15 years of age who were operated upon for nonperforated appendicitis at Asan Medical Center were analyzed between December 2002 and April 2003. Age, type and length of intervention, frequency of analgesic use, complication, length of hospitalization, and cost for each treatment groups (N=11) were compared. Laparoscopy patients were older (13.0 vs. 10.1 years; p > 0.05), and operative time was longer (55.0 vs. 35.0 minutes; p < 0.05). There was no conversion (OA to LA). The median length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in laparoscopy (3.0 vs. 2.0 days; p < 0.05). The median cost for LA was more expensive (W833, 836 vs. W751,398; p < 0.05). Even though there were higher costs and longer operative times with laparoscopic procedures, the shorter hospital stay was an advantage.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is usually a disease of premature infants, but occasionally it affects the term neonate. Twenty-five infants with NEC were treated at Asan Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2002. and 13 of them were term infants. In each case, the diagnosis of NEC was established by a clinical illness fulfilling the Bell's stage II or III NEC as modified by Walsh or by surgical findings. There were six males and seven females. The birth weight was from 1,960 to 3,700 g. The age at diagnosis was from 1 to 40 days. Four patients had congenital heart disease; one of them had hypothyroidism and cleft palate. Abdominal distension was present in all, and bloody stools in four. One patient had history of hypoglycemia, three had Rota viral infection. Eight patients had leucopoenia (<5.0 × 10⁹/L), Seven had thrombocytopenia (<100 × 10⁹/L), and three severe thrombocytopenia (<50 × 10⁹/L). Laparotomy was required in 10 of the 13 patients. Indications for operation in acute phase were failure to respond to aggressive medical therapy in five, and perforation in three patients. There were two late phase operation for intestinal stricture and fistula. There was no operative complications. Ten of thirteen patients survived (76.9%). Two patients died of septic complication. There was a delayed death due to heart failure. There was a significant difference in survival according to platelet count (50 × 10⁹/L) (p<0.05). Congenital heart disease and Rota viral infection is associated with NEC in term infants and thrombocytopenia and leucopenia in the course may be surgical indications.

Diagnosing Hirschsprung's disease is a clinical challenge. Hirschsprung's disease should be considered in any child who has a history of constipation dating back to the newborn period. We examined diagnostic methods and their results retrospectively in 37 neonates and infants who underwent both barium enema and anorectal manometry for the diagnosis of Hirschsprungs disease at Asan Medical Center between January 1999 and April 2001. Two radiologists and a surgeon repeatedly reviewed both of the diagnostic results. In anorectal manometry, thirty-four studies were in agreement with the definitive diagnosis, giving an overall diagnostic accuracy of 91.9 % (neonate; 100 %, infant; 85.7 %). The accuracy and specificity of barium enema was lower than those of anorectal manometry, but sensitivity was higher. There was no significant difference between the two methods. Both studies showed findings consistent with the final diagnosis. However, discordant results needed further evaluation or close observation to diagnose accurately. We conclude that Hirschsprungs disease should not be diagnosed by only one diagnostic method.