Segmental omental infarction (SOI) is an unusual and rare cause of abdominal pain in children and is often mistaken for acute appendicitis preoperatively. SOI once diagnosed preoperatively should be treated conservatively. Surgical intervention, however, may be necessary in order to establish definitive diagnosis and treatment. We present 2 children with SOI diagnosed as acute appendicitis preoperatively. Laparoscopy established the diagnosis and treatment. Laparoscopy should be the procedure of choice in children presenting with right-sided abdominal pain that is not well established preoperatively. This is especially so in obese children. Laparoscopy not only establishes the diagnosis of SOI but laparoscopic omentectomy results in resolution of symptoms and faster recovery.

abstract:Objectives: This study investigated the feasibility of using a phosphorescence oxygen analyser to measure cellular respiration (mitochondrial O 2 consumption) in foreskin samples and their fibroblast-rich cultures. Methods: Foreskin specimens from normal infants were collected immediately after circumcision and processed for measuring cellular respiration and for culture. Cellular mitochondrial O 2 consumption was determined as a function of time from the phosphorescence decay of the Pd (II) meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-tetrabenzoporphyrin. Results: In sealed vials containing a foreskin specimen and glucose, O 2 concentration decreased linearly with time, confirming the zero-order kinetics of O 2 consumption by cytochrome oxidase. Cyanide inhibited O 2 consumption, confirming that the oxidation occurred mainly in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The rate of foreskin respiration (mean ± SD) was 0.074 ± 0.02 μM O 2 min -1 mg -1 (n = 23). The corresponding rate for fibroblast-rich cultures was 9.84 ± 2.43 μM O 2 min -1 per 10 7 cells (n = 15). Fibroblast respiration was significantly lower in a male infant with dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase gene mutations, but normalised with the addition of thiamine or carnitine. Conclusion: The foreskin and its fibroblast-rich culture are suitable for assessment of cellular respiration. However, the clinical utility of foreskin specimens to detect disorders of impaired cellular bioenergetics requires further investigation. Keywords

We report a rare case of colon cancer after treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma. Colorectal adenocarcinoma must be kept in mind as a secondary neoplasm following treatment for early childhood malignancies although it is extremely rare.

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Ingestion of magnets is becoming a common problem among children and teens and are known to be associated with serious complications that result from pressure necrosis and bowel perforation. We report a series of eight children with multiple magnets ingestion that resulted in complications including small bowel perforation and intestinal obstruction necessitating an emergency laparotomy and intestinal resection. The aim of this report is to raise awareness of the complications associated with magnet ingestion in children. The literature on the subject is also reviewed and early surgical intervention is recommended for multiple swallowed magnets. The role of laparoscopy in this regard is also stressed.