The Bilistick System is an accurate alternative to transcutaneous (TcB) determination for early diagnosis and proper management of the neonatal jaundice.

Summary Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia is gaining popularity worldwide attributable to availability and advances in minimally invasive instruments. In this report, we presented our experience with thoracoscopic esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) repair in our tertiary care institute. A prospective study on short-gap type-C EA/TEF was conducted at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital between April 2016 and 2018. Excluded were cases with birth weight < 1500 gm, inability to stabilize physiologic parameters, or major cardiac anomalies. The technique was standardized in all cases and was carried out by operating team concerned with minimally invasive surgery at our facility. Primary outcome evaluated was successful primary anastomosis. Secondary outcomes included operative time, conversion rate, anastomotic leakage, recurrent fistula, postoperative stricture, and time till discharge. Over the inclusion period of this study, 136 cases of EA/TEF were admitted at our surgical NICU. Thoracoscopic repair was attempted in 76 cases. In total, 30 cases were pure atresia/long gap type-C atresia and were excluded from the study. Remaining 46 cases met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Mean age at operation was 8.7 days (range 2–32), and mean weight was 2.6 Kg (range 1.8–3.6). Apart from five cases (10.8%) converted to thoracotomy, the mean operative time was 108.3 minutes (range 80–122 minute). A tension-free primary anastomosis was possible in all thoracoscopically managed cases (n = 41) cases. Survival rate was 85.4% (n = 35). Anastomotic leakage occurred in seven patients (17%). Conservative management was successful in two cases, while esophagostomy and gastrostomy were judged necessary in the other for five. Anastomotic stricture developed in five cases (16.6%) of the 30 surviving patients who kept their native esophagus. Despite the fact that good mid-term presented results may be due to patient selection bias, thoracoscopic approach proved to be feasible for management of short-gap EA/TEF. Authors of this report believe that thoracoscopy should gain wider acceptance and pediatric surgeons should strive to adopt this procedure.

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Background and Aim Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia is gaining popularity worldwide owing to the availability of and advances in minimally invasive instruments. This report presents our early experience of thoracoscopic esophageal atresia repair (EA/TEF) in a single institute. Methods A prospective study on short-gap type C EA/TEF was conducted at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital from April 2016. The technique was standardized in all cases: patients placed in the fully prone position, and using a 5 mm 30° scope with 3 mm instruments and carried out by four experts in minimally invasive surgery. Data was collected to include patient demographics and operative time. The main outcome was survival. Secondary outcomes were leak rate and postoperative stricture. Results Over a period of 24 months (April 2016–April 2018) 136 cases of EA/TEF were admitted. Thoracoscopy was attempted in 76 cases. Thirty cases with pure atresia or long-gap anomaly were excluded from this study for gap length, leaving 46 (60%) nonconsecutive neonates who underwent thoracoscopic repair of their short-gap EA/TEF. Five cases (10.8%) were converted to open surgery via right thoracotomy. A primary anastomosis was possible in all cases, leaving the azygos intact. The mean age at operation was 8.7 days (range 2–32), the mean weight was 2.6 kg (range 1.8–3.6), and the mean operative time was 108.3 minutes (range 80–180). In the fully thoracoscopic patients the survival was 85.4% (n = 35). An anastomotic leak occurred in 17% (n = 7); it was managed conservatively in 2 and with esophagostomy and gastrostomy in 5 cases. Followup was at one week, one and three months postdischarge. A stricture developed in 5 (16.6%) of the 30 surviving patients who kept their native esophagus. Conclusions Thoracoscopic repair is a feasible alternative even in a low-resource setting. The better outcome compared to traditional open repair in our center may be due to patient selection bias.

Background: Applying mechanical ventilation (MV) to premature lungs carries many risks, up to lung injury and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Stabilization with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) avoids intubation and invasiveness. Aim of work:To evaluate the predictors of outcome of nasal CPAP on preterms with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Material and Methods: This prospective observational study included all preterms with RDS that necessitated CPAP introduction (according to the European Consensus Guidelines on the Management of RDS), who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Department of Pediatrics, Cairo University Hospitals, from February to July 2019. CPAP was initiated in the first 2 hours of life. Respiratory compromise was assessed using Silverman score. Hematological scoring system (HSS) was studied as a predictor of outcome. Those who did not need subsequent intubation were labeled CPAP success group and were compared to the group where CPAP failed. Results: Over 6-months, 508 preterm with gestational age (GA) 27-33 weeks with RDS were admitted to our NICU, of them 61 (mean GA± SD of 32.08 ± 1.98 weeks) were included in the study. Of them 35 (57.4%) were males and 26 (42.6 %) females. CPAP was successful in 37 (60.7%) and Silverman score improved 2 hours after CPAP. Their initial median (IQR) of Silverman score was 5 (range 3-6) and improved to 1 (range 1-2) 2 hours after CPAP, while in the failure group, it was 6 (range 5-7) initially and worsened to 8 (range 7.5-9) (p=0.026). Antenatal steroids administration was highly protective (p= 0.000) but not GA p=0.086) or gender (p=0.521). Initial severe RDS in chest X-ray at birth was present in 1 (2.7 %) preterm in the CPAP success group and 10 (41.7 %) in the failure group (p=0.000). The systolic blood pressure ≤ 66, HSS, chest X-ray before CPAP, non-improvement of chest X-ray after CPAP and apnea were the important predictors for CPAP failure (p= 0.023), (p= 0.090), (p= 0.025), (p= 0.011) and (p= 0.049) respectively. Conclusion: Trials of CPAP for preterms with severe RDS with hemodynamic stability are effective in obviating the need for more invasive MV. Factors including hypercarbia, apnea, poor respiratory efforts, systemic hypotension, higher Silverman score and HSS ≥5 were the most significant associations of failed CPAP.