The study objective is to evaluate the results of our surgical technique for children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ambiguous genitalia at the University Hospital of Heidelberg, Department of Paediatric Surgery. The records of 19 patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia treated between 1972 and 2004 were reviewed with respect to age at surgery, operative procedures and outcome. We describe the recession clitoroplasty technique currently used in our hospital and highlight the importance of short and long-term follow-up results with respect to appearance, position and size of the clitoris and quality of the vagina. One-stage recession clitoroplasty and vaginoplasty gives very satisfactory cosmetic and functional results, with few complications and a reduced need for secondary surgical interventions. The results of this study support the assumption that total correction can be achieved through a single-stage operation, performed in infancy.

In contrast to adult surgery, the neonatal small intestine confronts the surgeon, depending on the age of the patient, with variable diameters of the intestine. Therefore, anastomoses are usually performed by hand with interrupted sutures. In the presented study, a new technique is demonstrated. An anastomosis in the distal ileum of Sprague Dawley rats was performed with a single clamp applicator (Anastoclip). Small bowel anastomoses were performed in 32 rats. The clipped bowel anastomosis was evaluated concerning stenosis, leakage, and adhesions in comparison to the sutured anastomosis. Tension test and X-ray examination were performed to measure the stability. The rats were sacrificed at day 3 or 14 after laparotomy. The clipped anastomosis is feasible, and faster to perform than the conventional hand-sutured anastomosis (Operation time: control group: 18.5 min versus clipped group 4 min; p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were differences in the mechanical stability, with higher tension forces needed for rupturing the clipped anastomosis. There were fewer stenoses (16.5 mm stenotic diameter in the control group versus 20.6 mm in the clipped group) and fewer adhesions in the group of the clipped anastomosis. Histological examinations were performed and did not show significant differences between the two groups. In the animal model presented, the clipped, intestinal, non-perforating anastomosis (CINPA) shows advantages compared to the common hand-sutured anastomosis.

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Acute scrotum is a challenging emergency situation in children, adolescents and adults with a variety of underlying conditions and causes. In cases with a clinical suspicion of torsion of the spermatic cord, immediate surgical exploration is mandatory. This article details the surgical management of this condition. Any delay in restoring testicular blood supply may cause irreversible loss of vital testicular tissue.