Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the proportion of children requiring ocular surgery amongst new patients presenting to the Paediatric Ophthalmology Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, over a 2-year period, to enhance planning and improve the efficiency of service delivery. Methods: The study was a retrospective review of records of all new patients aged 0–16 years who presented to the Paediatric Ophthalmology Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, over a 2-year period (May 2015–April 2017). Information on age and gender, clinical diagnosis and indications for surgery and type of surgery scheduled were retrieved from the diagnosis register of the unit, and a descriptive analysis was performed. Results: Of the 1240 children who presented to the clinic within the study period, 142 (11.5%) needed surgical interventions. Their ages ranged from 1 month to 16 years, with a mean age of 6.4 ± 4.7 years. Seventy-nine (55.6%) of these were males. The most common indications for surgery were cataract and cataract-related indications (n = 122, 85.9%), followed by glaucoma and strabismus. Other less common indications for surgery were nasolacrimal duct obstruction and epibulbar dermoid. Conclusion: Paediatric cataract, the leading cause of childhood blindness in this environment, presents the greatest surgical burden in our unit. It should, therefore, be a major focus of personnel training and equipment procurement for paediatric ophthalmology services in our environment.

Purpose: We report the efficacy of pre- and post-operative showering for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) and urethrocutaneous fistula after hypospadias surgery. Materials and Methods: In 2006, standardised pre- and postoperative showering was introduced for hypospadias patients. Showering involves washing the genitals and groin 2 h preoperatively as well as immediately after the removal of a stent postoperatively. Data from 520 procedures performed on 376 hypospadias patients by a single surgeon from 1996 to 2015 were collected prospectively. The shower (S) group comprised 258 patients (372 procedures) and the nonshower group comprised 118 patients (148 procedures). Management protocols were identical for two groups. Results: Patient demographics were similar. SSIs were significantly less in the S group (0% vs. 2.0%; P < 0.05). The incidence of fistulas was lower in the S group (2.0% vs. 6.3%). The mean duration of follow-up was significantly shorter in the S group (3.6 vs. 12.8 years; P < 0.05) but longer than the mean time taken for complications to develop (0.4 years). Conclusions: Our results suggest that pre- and post-operative showering may contribute to preventing SSIs and fistulas in hypospadias patients.

Background: Because of the restricted space of the peritoneal cavity and the easy mobility of abdominal and pelvic organs in infants and neonates, the boundary of minimally invasive surgery was extended to complete the operation outside the abdomen. The objective of this study was to report our experience with transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted surgery (TULS) in different abdominal pathologies in infants and neonates. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 59 patients who underwent TULS from 2014 to 2020. The study outcomes were the conversion to open approach, length of hospital stay and post-operative complications. Results: The most common indications were explorations for intra-abdominal testes (n = 15) and inguinal herniorrhaphy (n = 13). Patients who had surgery for pyloric stenosis were younger (1.03 ± 0.25 months). The average operative time was 45.9 ± 18.39 min. The longest operative time was reported with surgery for liver cysts (94.5 ± 10.6 min). Oral intake was started after 48–56 h in patients who had excision of duplication cysts. The average post-operative hospital stay was 2.6 ± 1.52 days. No major complications were reported. Wound infection occurred in one patient with a duplication cyst. Three patients were converted to open repair (5.1%) and no late complications were reported during the mean follow-up time of 11.2 ± 5.1 months. Conclusions: The transumbilical approach is a safe alternative method to laparotomy in several abdominal pathologies in infants and neonates. It has a short operative time and hospital stay. The technique is associated with few complications and conversion rates.

Purpose: Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis has become quite popular over the past decade. There have been many modifications in the technique initially described by Alain et al. in 1991. We describe our experience of the laparoscopic procedure performed in twenty cases. Materials and Methods: This study includes twenty patients of pyloric stenosis who underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy from March 2017 to March 2020. All the infants had classical clinical symptoms and abdominal ultrasound confirming the diagnosis of pyloric stenosis. Two 3-mm ports and one 5-mm port were used. The duodenum was grasped to stabilise the olive; a stab knife cut to 10 mm and mounted on a needle holder was introduced through the 3-mm trocar in the left hypochondrium to perform the myotomy, and subsequently, the myotomy was spread with a 5-mm Maryland forceps. Feeding was started 6 h postoperatively. Results: Twenty patients with congenital idiopathic pyloric stenosis underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy by this technique. The average operating time was 42 min. There were no peri- or post-operative complications. The post-operative hospital stay ranged between 36 h and 54 h. Conclusion: Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy using a stab knife mounted on a needle holder is a technically feasible, safe and effective surgical procedure for pyloric stenosis.

Background: There are no standard criteria to select patients for thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The objective of this study was to compare open laparotomy versus thoracoscopic repair of CDH in neonates. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 41 patients who had repair of CDH from 2011 to 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach; open laparotomy (n = 30) and thoracoscopic repair (n = 11). Study endpoints were duration of post-operative mechanical ventilation, hospital stay and the return to full enteral feeding. Results: Patients who had thoracoscopic repair were significantly younger (3 [25^th- 75^th percentiles: 3-3] vs. 4 [3–5] days; P = 0.004). Other pre-operative variables were comparable between both groups. The duration of surgery was significantly longer in the thoracoscopic repair (174 [153–186] vs. 91 (84–99) min; P < 0.001). The use of pre-operative nitrous oxide inhalation was associated with prolonged ventilation (P = 0.004), while the thoracoscopic repair was associated with shorter mechanical ventilation (P = 0.006). Hospital stay is lower in the thoracoscopic approach but did not reach a significant value (P = 0.059). The use of pre-operative nitrous oxide was associated with a prolonged hospital stay (P = 0.002). Younger age (HR: 1.33, P = 0.014) and open approach (HR: 3.56, P = 0.004) were significantly associated with delayed feeding. Conclusions: The thoracoscopic approach is safe and effective for repairing the CDH. It is associated with shorter mechanical ventilation and rapid return to enteral feeding. Proper patient selection is essential to achieve good outcomes.

Background: The novel coronavirus and the disease it causes COVID-19, like other viral outbreaks, have an unpredictable timeline. Therefore, a triumph in the battle against COVID-19 could only be achieved if a health care system's capacity to support a potentially overwhelming increase in critical patient care needs is maintained, and the viral curve is flattened. Accordingly, health care bodies around the globe called upon prioritising appropriate resource allocation as it relates to elective invasive procedures and minimising the use of essential items required to care for patients. The unpredictability COVID-19 timeline in the absence of effective drug treatments and vaccination along with the restrictive health care policies implemented suggest that patients may be deprived of access to needed surgical care, likely for many months. However, the potential undue delay in delivering essential elective surgical care may have a more detrimental impact on patients' health compared to that of COVID-19 itself. This particularly applies to the paediatric population in which infection rates have been demonstrated to be considerably lower and mortalities have not been reported yet. Therefore, the need emerges for actions to be taken that allow for the resumption of essential elective surgical procedures in this population of patients. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search through surgical guidance and recommendations to develop a set of evidence based recommendations that allow for the safe and timely delivery of essential paediatric surgical care during the time of COVID-19. Conclusion: No compelling evidence that the paediatric population is at an increased risk of morbidity or mortality exists. Therefore, delaying essential paediatric surgical care cannot be justified as it may have a potentially negative health impact, and continuous refinements of surgical recommendations are encouraged in view of evolving circumstances.

Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the effect of a more restrictive antibiotic policy on infective complications, mainly surgical-site infection (SSI) in clean and clean contaminated surgeries in children. Materials and Methods: The study included children who underwent clean or clean contaminated surgeries over a period of 18 months with a no-antibiotic or single dose of pre-operative antibiotic protocol, respectively. These were compared to historical controls in previous 18 months where the antibiotic policy was to continue the course for 3–5 days. The outcome looked for was presence of SSI or infection related to the operated organ. Results: A total of 933 (study group) patients were compared to 676 historic controls (control group). In the study group, 661 of 933 were clean surgeries and 272 were clean contaminated surgeries. In the study group, 490 of the 676 were clean surgeries and 186 were clean contaminated surgeries. Clean contaminated surgeries included urological surgeries, gastrointestinal tract surgeries and neurosurgeries, whereas clean surgeries were typically day-care surgeries. Comparing the infective outcomes in each type of surgery, there was no statistical difference between cases or controls in either subgroup. Conclusion: Antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) is not required for clean surgeries. For clean contaminated surgeries, just one dose of pre-operative AP is effective in preventing SSI.

Background: Congenital pouch colon (CPC) is an unusual anomaly with an unique geographical distribution. The aim of this study was to find out the incidence of CPC among anorectal malformation (ARM) cases in our institute and to compare the outcome between conventional three-staged surgery versus two-staged management approach. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the department of pediatric surgery over a period of 7 years from 1^st April 2013 to 31^st March 2020. Results: Out of 754 cases of ARMs, 43 cases of CPC were detected. The incidence of pouch colon among patients with high ARMs was found to be 7.6% with a male predominance (M:F = 4.4:1). The anomaly was diagnosed in 72% of our patients preoperatively and Type IV variety was the most common intra-operative finding. The survival after initial hospitalisation was 82% and 88% in three-stage and two-stage surgical procedures, respectively. However, the final clinical outcome after the completion of all stages of surgery and follow-up was better in two-staged approach (54% vs. 47%). Conclusion: Although, CPC is a rare anomaly, the incidence in our institute is 7.6% among high ARM cases. As compared to conventional three-staged surgery, the two-staged management approach has the advantage of better survival and decreased morbidity.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the waiting time (WT) for a short-stay surgery and determine its possible determinant factors. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Paediatric Surgery at the National Hospital of Lamordé of Niamey, Niger. It included patients aged 0–15 years who benefitted from a short-stay surgery (24–48 h of hospitalisation) during a period of 19 months (1^st January 2017 - 31^st July 2018). Patient, diagnosis and surgical treatment data were gathered. WT was the time elapsed between the indication of a surgical operation and its realisation. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used with a threshold statistical significance of < 0.05. Results: Short-stay surgery constituted 25.4% of all operating activities (n = 271). Inguinal or inguinoscrotal hernia was the most frequent pathology at 31.38% (n = 85). The mean WT was of 116.6 days (range: 4–491 days) and the median was 114 days. WT was greater than or equal to 3 months for 63.9% of the patients (n = 173). Based on pathology, the mean WT varied between 57.5 days (ovarian hernia) and 163.6 days (5.8 months) for epigastric hernia. A significantly longer WT was observed with the presence of a comorbidity (P = 0.0352) but was not associated with patient residence (P = 0.0951). Conclusion: A long WT for a short-stay surgery should be improved upon by different interventions with respect to the supply and demand of care and the setting of priorities.

There are some common genetic heritages between human and mammals. Human tail, though rare is one of the most noticeable. Till the date, around 60 cases reported in the literature. A true human tail is a benign vestigial caudal cutaneous structure composed of adipose, connective tissue, muscle, vessels and nerves. A true human tail can be distinguished from a pseudotail as the latter is commonly associated with underlying spinal dysraphism, which requires specialised management. We report a case series of four caudal appendages. Two clients were infants, while others two were toddler and presented with cutaneous appendage arising from the lumbosacral region. Out of four, only one had associated spinal dysraphism and neurological manifestation while others did not have spinal dysraphism and neurological manifestation. The appendage was removed by the surgical excision. Clinicians should emphasise the use of 'true tail' and 'pseudo-tail' as the specific disparate terms as the clinical, radiological and histological findings of these conditions differs significantly, along with the management strategies and outcomes.

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is one of the most common diseases among a wide range of chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in children of all ages, significantly impairing the quality of life of the child and posing a serious threat to the health of the patient. Materials and Methods: From 2008 to 2019, 134 patients aging from 6 months to 12 years were hospitalized at the Scientific Center for Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, including 69 (51%) infants. Of them, 51 (38%) were the patients with persistent manifestations of regurgitation, despite an outpatient course of conservative therapy; 29 (22%) patients with recurrent reflux-associated pneumonia; also, 35 (26%) children with gastroesophageal reflux in the structure of the main pathology of the central nervous system, as well as 19 (14%) patients after surgery of the anastomosis of the esophagus with its atresia. One hundred and seven (79.8%) patients underwent surgery. Nissen esophagofundoplication was traditionally performed in 41 (38%) patients, in combination with Stamm gastrostomy in 14 (34%), with Mikulich pyloroplasty in 9 (22%), and in combination with gastrostomy and pyloroplasty in 12 (29%) children. Laparoscopic Nissen esophagofundoplication was used in 16 (15%). Thall esophagofundoplication was performed in 48 (45%) patients, whereas in two (2%) cases, Borema gastropexy was conducted. Results: The immediate results were studied in all 107 patients. Complications in the form of gastric distress syndrome were revealed in four (3.7%) patients who did not undergo pyloroplasty, which in two (1.9%) cases required additional surgery of the stomach draining, whereas in the other two (1.9%) patients, the distress syndrome was stopped conservatively. A dumping syndrome was identified in two (1.9%) patients. Conclusion: Timely recognition of the pathological process, its nature, and prevalence determines the indications for the use of various methods of operation, which are based on an individual approach to each patient.

Background: Hypospadias is a fairly common problem, and it is the most common genital congenital anomaly. Objective: This study was carried out to compare polyglactin and polydioxanone in hypospadias repair by assessing the rate of complications, especially urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF) formation. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective observational cross-sectional hospital-based study carried out at the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Ribat University Hospital, from June 2015 to November 2016. In Group A, there were 55 patients who underwent repair using polyglactin, and in Group B, there were 50 patients who underwent repair using polydioxanone. All patients were operated by the same surgeon. Results: The mean age of Group A was 5.7 ± 4.3 years and 5.1 ± 3.9 years in Group B. Meatal advancement and glanuloplasty incorporated operation was done in 47.6%, Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in (31.4%), Theirsch-Duplay in 20% and Mathieu's repair in 1%. The complication rate was 34% in Group A and 10.9% in Group B. The most frequent complication was UCF, as 19 patients (18.1%) of the study candidates developed UCF; most of them were in Group A (14 patients) and 5 patients in Group B. Another significant complication was meatal stenosis, which occurred in 11 patients (10.5%): 9 in Group A and 2 in Group B. Conclusion: Polydioxanone (PDS) is satisfactory in hypospadias repair as it is associated with better outcome, especially UCF, which is most common and most difficult to treat complication.

Background: Oesophageal atresia lacks sufficiently documented treatment approach, as guidelines are based rather on the opinion of experts than on systematic data. We aimed to answer the question if treatment of patients without major cardiovascular anomalies could be justified at a peripheral paediatric surgical institution, by evaluating the outcome of surgical correction. Methods: Thirty-three neonates underwent surgery for correction of oesophageal atresia during a period of 20 years. They were categorised into two time-period groups, to follow-up the evolution of surgical intervention and complications through time. Evaluation of post-operative outcome and morbidity was performed. The results were related to those of our recent cross-sectional study on families having experienced oesophageal atresia performed years after repair, regarding the long-term quality of life. Results: A shift from staged to primary repair occurred throughout time in the patients with a marginal long gap between proximal and distal oesophagus (P = 0.008). Anastomotic stenosis was the major short-term complication encountered, treated with post-operative dilation sessions. Dysphagia and reflux were the most common long-term complications. Conclusions: Oesophageal atresia without severe cardiovascular abnormalities could be treated at a peripheral paediatric surgical department with satisfactory outcomes. However, qualified paediatric surgeons, anaesthesiologists and neonatologists and the availability of neonatal intensive care unit should be definitively required.

Background: Constipation is a common problem after surgery for anorectal malformations (ARMs), especially in patients having preserved rectosigmoid after pull-down surgery. Here, we present our experience with patients having constipation after surgery for ARMs and briefly discuss its management. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed electronic operative and follow-up data from January 2015 to December 2019 of all patients having constipation after surgery for ARMs. Results: A total of 77 patients were included in the study. The median age was 60 months, and thirty patients were male. Primary diagnoses were rectourethral fistula (26; 33.77%), vestibular fistula (25; 32.47%), perineal fistula/ectopic anus (18; 23.38%), rectovaginal fistula (4; 5.19%) and imperforate anus without fistula (4; 5.19%). Anal stenosis was found in 20 (25.97%) patients, posterior ledge with an adequate anal opening in 5 (6.49%), displaced anus in 4 (5.19%) but no obvious problem found in 48 (62.34%) patients. Non-operative management was successful in 75.44% (43 out of 57) of patients. Surgery was performed in 32 out of 77 patients (41.56%) with no mortality. Forty-three (72.88%) patients are continent, stayed clean, but 16 (27.19%) patients still need some sort of laxative/bowel wash/enema intermittently (Grade I/II constipation). Incidence of constipation was higher in patients operated through anterior sagittal route (27.58%) than posterior sagittal route (23.94%), but it was not statistically significant (P = 0.479). Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 5 years. Conclusion: Constipation is a common problem after ARMs surgery, especially in patients having preserved rectosigmoid after pull-down surgery. It is advisable to create relatively larger neoanus after pull through with early practice of neoanus dilatation, especially in redo cases. Repeated counselling, laxatives and dietary manipulations should begin at the first sign of constipation.

Background: Sickle cell trait (SCT) affects at least 5.2% of the world population, and it is considered asymptomatic by medical practitioners. There is a paucity of data regarding SCT paediatric patients and haematogenous osteoarticular infections (HOAIs). In our practice, some children with SCT presented HOAIs. This study aims to describe the pattern of HOAIs in children with SCT admitted in our unit. Materials and Methods: A single-centre retrospective study of medical records of SCT paediatric patients treated for HOAIs between January 2012 and June 2019 was performed. The data extracted were epidemiologic (gender, age at diagnosis, history of haemoglobinopathy and ethnic group), diagnostic (time to diagnosis, type of infection and fraction of haemoglobin S [HbS] at standard electrophoresis of Hb), germs and complications. Results: Among 149 patients with haemoglobinopathy treated for HOAIs, 52 have SCT. The prevalence of SCT patients was 34.9%. Thirty-nine (n = 39) records were retained for the study. The average age at diagnosis was 7.18 ± 4.59 years (7 months–15 years). The Malinké ethnic group was found in 22 (56.4%) cases. The mean HbS fraction was 37.2% ± 4.3% (30%–46%). Septic arthritis and osteoarthritis involved the hip in 11 cases, the shoulder in 4 and the knee in 2. Osteomyelitis was acute in 5 cases (11.1%) and chronic in 16 (35.5%). None of the patients has multifocal involvements. Bacterial identification was positive in 17 cases (37.8%). Staphylococcus aureus was involved in 9 cases (52.9%), and in one case, it was Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This patient has abscess of the psoas. No patient was infected by human immunodeficiency virus. The sequelae were joint destruction (n = 2), epiphysiodesis (n = 5) and retractile scars (n = 2). Conclusion: Relatively infrequent in our daily practice, SCT patients present with HOAIs. These infections had characteristics that are not very different from the series of the literature.