Public understanding of intersex: an update on recent findings

Surgical interventions on infants with intersex characteristics are considered justified by some on the grounds that they carry a high risk of intolerable stigma. However, public understanding of intersex and its medicalization are under-researched. We review recent qualitative and quantitative studies of the understandings of intersex and its medicalization among people who have no particular professional or public experience of intersex. First, such laypeople reason about clinical dilemmas by drawing on values in similar ways as expert healthcare professionals do. Second, laypeople can over-estimate the utility of current ‘umbrella terms,’ including intersex, for people with direct familial experience of intersex. Third, beliefs about good and bad effects of medical intervention are affected by framing intersex as either a medical condition or the natural basis for a social identity. Fourth, sexual identity is the best evidenced predictor of opinions about early surgical intervention and its legal limitation on human rights grounds. We argue that possible stigmatizing reactions from the public may not be a solid basis on which to justify early surgical intervention on intersex characteristics.

Case Report: Hemispherotomy in the First Days of Life to Treat Drug-Resistant Lesional Epilepsy

Background: Neonatal drug-resistant epilepsy is often caused by perinatal epileptogenic insults such as stroke, ischemia, hemorrhage, and/or genetic defects. Rapid seizure control is particularly important for cognitive development. Since early surgical intervention and thus a short duration of epilepsy should lead to an optimal developmental outcome, we present our experience with hemispherotomy in an infant at the corrected age of 1 week.Methods: We report successful hemispherotomy for drug-resistant epilepsy in an infant with hemimegalencephaly at a corrected age of 1 week.Results: The infant was diagnosed with drug-resistant lesional epilepsy due to hemimegalencephaly affecting the left hemisphere. Given congruent electroclinical findings, we performed a left vertical parasagittal transventricular hemispherotomy after critical interdisciplinary discussion. No complications occurred during the surgery. Intraoperatively; 118 ml of red blood cells (30 ml/kg) and 80 ml of plasma were transfused. The patient has been seizure-free since discharge without further neurological deficits.Conclusion: We demonstrate that early epilepsy surgery is a safe procedure in very young infants if performed in a specialized center experienced with age-specific surgical conditions and perioperative management. The specific surgical difficulties should be weighed against the risk of life-long developmental drawbacks of ongoing detrimental epilepsy.

Presentation of Small Bowel Volvulus in East Africa

Introduction: A benign gastrointestinal surgical condition involving torsion of part or all of a segment of small bowel on its mesenteric axis is small bowel volvulus (SBV). The clinical presentation is similar to acute mesenteric ischaemia and hence a preoperative clinical diagnosis is difficult to obtain. In developing countries, as a presenting surgical cause of small bowel obstruction it has contributed to a significant burden. The aim of this case report was to discuss a typical case of small bowel volvulus in a developing country and highlight the importance of resuscitation and early surgical intervention. Presentation of case: A 35 year old lady admitted to hospital with a 3 day history of colicky central abdominal pain. She reported a long period of fasting and sudden ingestion of food. On physical examination her abdomen was moderately distended with minimal tenderness. Laboratory investigations were normal and a plain abdominal X-ray revealed features suggestive of small bowel obstruction. After resuscitation the patient was taken for a laparotomy where evidence of SBV was found. An omental band adhesion was divided, the volvulus untwisted and the small bowel was all viable. The patient made an uneventful postoperative recovery. Discussion: The incidence of SBV is higher in Africa, Asia and the Middle East compared to the Western world. Secondary SBV is more commonly found in older age groups however primary SBV is more common in children. The most common complaints of SBV includes abdominal pain, abdominal distention and vomiting. The mortality rate due to SBV has been found to be decreasing with early diagnosis due to abdominal CT scanning. This reduction in mortality is due to a reduction in the incidence of gangrene of the SBV. Conclusions: Due to the high mortality and variable presentation, surgeons must consider small bowel volvulus a probably diagnosis in a patient with abdominal pain and features of small bowel obstruction. Early surgical intervention is necessary to reduce the morbidity and mortality from SBV.

P-OGC27 Chyle Leak following Oesophagectomy: ‘A Retrospective 10-year Single-Site Experience of a Tertiary Centre.’

Background Chyle leak is a relatively uncommon but well-recognised complication following Oesophagectomy which carries significant morbidity and mortality if not treated actively. Evidence suggests the incidence rate of chyle leak post oesophagectomy can range from 0.4% to 21%. The aim of this study was to describe our experience in managing this complication. Methods This was a retrospective study, using the electronic database, to analyse our incidence of chyle leak in all patients who underwent elective oesophagectomy from April 2009 to December 2019 in a Tertiary Upper GI cancer centre. The diagnosis was confirmed by high persistent chest drain output, the colour of the fluid produced in the chest drain and its ‘content’ including fluid triglyceride levels and the presence of chylomicrons. Results Between 2009-2019, a total of 550 patients underwent Oesophagectomy. The median length of stay was 13 (Range 3 to 148) days. The median age was 63 years (45 to 82) with M:F 2:1. Chyle leak was identified in 24 patients (4.4%); Patients who were managed surgically were 83.3%(n = 20) with a median LOS of 20 days (Range 11 to 148) and mortality of 5%(n = 1). 16.7%(n = 4) were managed conservatively with a median LOS of 31 days (Range 14 to 51) and mortality of 0%. All 24 patients with chyle leak had neoadjuvant chemotherapy as part of treatment with radical intent. Conclusions Low mortality rates with chyle leak can be achieved with a high index of suspicion and early surgical intervention. This is crucial in reducing the length of stay in hospital and morbidity. Conservative management is suitable in low volume chyle leak and cases clinically responding to medical management.

Ingested Magnets: A health hazard and the Role of laparoscopy

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.

Symbrachydactyly

Symbrachydactyly is a rare congenital hand malformation in which a child is born with abnormally short digits that may be webbed, misshaped, or missing, and it is usually a unilateral condition. There is no standardized treatment algorithm for the management of symbrachydactyly. The function of the hand is often not adequate and requires early surgical intervention to restore useful prehension and appearance. This CME article presents a brief review of the embryology, history, classification and clinical presentation, and author’s experience of treating 19 children with symbrachydactyly over 10 years. Creation of thumb web, lengthening of thumb, and creating an opposition post results in prehension of hand with an improved quality of life.

Reconstructive and restorative interventions at the proximal end of the thigh and pelvic bones in destructive pathological dislocation of the hip in children after hematogenous osteomyelitis

It is generally known that children tend to get injured more easily than adults. Moreover, these injuries they get in growing period may leave for long in the forms of disability. This paper is about reconstructive and restorative interventions at the proximal end of the thigh and pelvic bones in destructive pathological dislocation of the hip in children after hematogenous osteomyelitis. After hematogenous osteomyelitis of the proximal end of the femur, destruction of the head and neck of the femur is often observed, up to their destruction. The optimal age for surgical treatment of pathological dislocation of the hip, according to our data, is 4-5 years of age of the child, because by this time the process of ossification of the structures of the hip joint ends in most patients, and early surgical intervention often causes severe secondary deformities, up to their destruction.

Bifid Tongue and Cleft Palate: A Rare Congenital Malformation

Background: Congenital bifid tongue without other craniofacial abnormalities is a very rare malformation. Here, we discuss a case of the bifid tongue with cleft palate, reported in a 7-month-old girl with no other syndromes or craniofacial abnormalities. Case Reports: This case report described a 7-month-old girl with an anterior bifid tongue, separated medially by a soft, solitary sublingual mass measuring 3 cm x 2 cm in size. There was also an associated incomplete cleft palate. A soft solitary mass measuring 2 cm x 2 cm in size was also seen within the cleft palate. Results: Computed facial tomography (CT) revealed a midline hard palate defect with an intact alveolar process of the maxilla. Pedunculated cystic lesion suspected with epulis was noted to arise on premaxillary alveolar mucosa. Excision of the tongue and hard palate mass and repair of the bifid tongue were done. Summary: Congenital bifid tongue with a cleft is a very rare malformation with different variations. Early surgical intervention is critical to prevent speech impairment and swallowing disorders. A multidisciplinary approach, including well-planned staged operations and rehabilitation, is important to achieve favorable outcomes.