Prevention of Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Cholestasis With Cyclic Parenteral Nutrition in Infants...
CholestasisPrematurity3 moreHypothesis to be Tested: Since the first description of intravenous alimentation over half a century ago, parenteral nutrition (PN) has become a common nutritional intervention for conditions characterized by inability to tolerate enteral feeds such as Short Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Intestinal Pseudoobstruction, Microvillus Inclusion Disease, Crohn's disease, multi-organ failure and prematurity. Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Liver Disease (PNALD) encompasses a spectrum of disease including cholestasis, hepatitis, steatosis and gallbladder sludge/stones which may progress to liver cirrhosis and even failure. There is a direct correlation between duration of parenteral nutrition and development of cholestasis in infants. There is evidence in animals and humans that cycling of parental nutrition, defined as infusing nutrients over a time period shorter than 24 hours, reduces cholestasis. There is also data that premature infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks and birth weight <1500g, as well as infants with congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, are among those at highest risk of developing Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Cholestasis (PNAC). We therefore hypothesize that infants with gestational age (GA) <32 weeks and birth weight (BW) between <1500g, or with congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract regardless of GA or BW, receiving PN over a period of 20 hours will have a decrease severity of PNAC, demonstrated by a lower peak direct bilirubin, compared to a similar control population receiving standard 24 hour infusion.
Probiotics in Infants With Gastroschisis
GastroschisisInfants born with gastroschisis usually require surgery shortly after birth. After surgery the intestine is often unable to digest human milk or formula for weeks or months. During this time the baby has to remain in the hospital to receive special nutrition through an IV. How bacteria colonize the intestine in these babies is unknown. Probiotics are bacteria that appear to have beneficial effects on digestion. This study will test whether giving probiotic bacteria to babies after surgery for gastroschisis will change the bacteria in the intestine to be more like those of a healthy breast-fed baby.
Trial of AMNIOECHANGE in Gastroschisis Affected Foetuses
GastroschisisHypothesis: Gastroschisis is a localised disruption of the abdominal layer. It occurs early in gestation, and the bowel is therefore bathing in the amniotic fluid and can be constricted at the level of the abdominal hole. The bowel is therefore submitted to different injuries partly attributable to the contact with amniotic fluid contaminated by digestive compounds and inducing an inflammatory reaction. Experimental studies on animal models and preliminary data in humans indicate that changing regularly the amniotic fluid (i.e. AMNIOECHANGE) would improve the outcome of theses fetuses and then neonates.
Functional Evaluation of the Fetal Lung by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Blood Oxygenation...
Congenital Diaphragmatic HerniaOmphalocele1 moreThe objective is to evaluate the quality of the response to the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent effect in fetuses with diaphragmatic hernias and abdominal wall malformations and to correlate with postnatal respiratory outcome. Pulmonary involvement is a constant in diaphragmatic hernias, it is classic in omphaloceles and especially hepatomphaloceles, and exceptional in laparoschisis. As this is an original exploratory study, no preliminary data are available. If a correlation is found, the Blood Oxygen Level Dependent effect of the fetal lung may be considered as an early functional marker of postnatal lung function. It can be used in addition to lung-to-head-ratio during prenatal counseling. The final goal is to be able to detect early in the fetus pulmonary insufficiency to help prenatal counseling and perinatal care.
Multi-Centre Gastroschisis Interventional Study Across Sub-Saharan Africa
GastroschisisThis study is a multi-centre interventional study at seven tertiary paediatric surgery centres in Ghana, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania aimed at reducing mortality from gastroschisis.
Sham Feeding Post-operative Infants
Newborn MorbidityOral Aversion3 moreThe purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate a feeding technique, sham feeding, to promote adequate oral skills in order to prevent oral aversion and/or poor oral skills due to the delay in oral feeds for surgical reasons. Sham feeding is intended for infants who are expected to have a prolonged course without normal enteral feeding by mouth.
Children's Surgery in Sub-Saharan Africa
GastroschisisAnorectal Malformation3 moreBackground: Five billion people worldwide do not have access to safe, affordable surgical care. A significant proportion live in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where up to 50% of the population are children. There is limited literature on neonatal and paediatric surgery in SSA and children's surgery does not appear on any of the National Health Strategic Plans for the 47 independent countries across SSA. Objectives: To form a collaboration of surgeons and allied health professionals involved in children's surgery across SSA and collectively undertake the largest prospective cohort study of paediatric surgery in this region. Materials and Methods: Data will be collected via REDCap website on all patients with gastroschisis, anorectal malformation, appendicitis, inguinal hernia and intussusception, during a 1-month period of collaborators choice between October 2016 to April 2017, with a 30-day follow up until the end of May 2017. Estimated study population: 1450 patients from 50 institutions. Full ethical approval has been granted by the host centre; local ethical approval will be required at collaborating centres for participation. All collaborators will be co-authors. Primary outcome will be in-hospital all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes will include post-intervention complications. Data will be collected on institutional facilities, patient demographics, duration from condition onset to presentation, peri-operative resuscitation, intervention and outcome. Differences in outcomes between SSA and benchmark data from high-income countries will be calculated using chi-squared analysis. Multi-level multivariate logistic regression analysis will be used to identify interventions and peri-operative factors associated with improved outcomes; p<0.05 will be deemed significant. Outcome: Results will be used to advocate for enhanced children's surgical services in SSA. We shall identify context-appropriate interventions associated with improved outcome. The collaboration will help to enhance research capacity in the region.
Regional Blood Saturation Levels in Gastroschisis
GastroschisisIntestinal IschemiaGastroschisis is one of the most common neonatal surgical conditions, and is increasing in incidence. Postnatal bowel ischemia leading to necrosis, bowel loss and short-bowel syndrome, occurs in a few instances, with significant impact. Intestinal gangrene occurs in up to 37%. The cause of the gangrene can be multifactorial. Contributing factors can be volvulus; venous engorgement with ensuing arterial compromise; constriction of the gut mesentery at the defect; and contribution of the hydrostatic effect of the column of bowel within a silo. Theoretically, the increased hydrostatic pressure incurred by the bowel in a preformed silo, may decrease blood flow to the apex of the bowel and contribute to ischemia. However, this does not seem to be the norm, as most cases do well in the silo. Cases of intestinal ischaemia within the silo have been described in patients. Any objective measure of bowel perfusion and therefore viability which can aid clinical assessment and management may benefit patient outcome. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is used to noninvasively measure and monitor changes in the approximate regional haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) in the blood. Measurement of oxygen saturation using NIRS is already in clinical application in other neonatal and paediatric medical and surgical diseases. NIRS has been recommended as a good trend indicator of changes in neonatal tissues oxygenation. NIRS-measured duration of cerebral oxygen desaturation is an accurate predictor of postoperative neurological injury in children undergoing cardiac surgery. The investigators propose to use NIRS to measure SO2 in the intestinal bed in patients with gastroschisis and to ascertain if there is any clinical advantage to routine monitoring in these patients. The aim of the study will be to: Measure Gastrointestinal SO2 (GSO2) of the bowel within the silo of gastroschisis patients Identify the clinical progress of patients with gastroschisis in the postnatal period Identify any association of the measured GSO2 with the clinical outcome and any gastrointestinal complications
Utility of a Supraaponeurotic Mesh as Prophylaxis of the Midline Eventration After an Oncological...
EventrationRandomized prospective experimental study, in which the effect of a prophylactic mesh is assessed in the eventration rate diagnosed by CT at one year after surgery in patients with CRC who underwent elective intervention for supra-infraumbilical midline laparotomy, considering as treatment the supra-aponeurotic mesh positioning (experimental group), and comparing it to the standard closing with a continuous suture using slow absorption monofilament.
Timing of Stoma Closure in Neonates
EnterocolitisNecrotizing6 moreSome babies require emergency surgery on their tummy in the first few months of life. This is most commonly because they were born prematurely and developed a bowel problem (called NEC) or a blockage of the bowel. As part of this surgery, the ends of the bowel may be brought to the skin surface (called a stoma) to divert stool into a bag. The stoma allows time for the bowel to rest and recover and is intended to be temporary with reversal later on. The best time to reverse or "close" the stoma is unknown. Stomas may cause dehydration, poor growth and skin problems so earlier closure may be better; however surgery is safer when babies are older and bigger so later closure may be better. This study aims to answer the question, 'is it feasible to conduct a clinical trial comparing 'early' vs. 'late' stoma closure in neonates?' It has a series of specific objectives which incorporate: (i) describing current UK practice; (ii) establishing whether or not a clinical trial (and exactly what form of trial) is acceptable to parents and clinicians; and (iii) establishing the design of a potential trial, including defining the intervention ('early vs. late') and the population of infants to be included, how infants should be recruited and what information should be collected (outcomes). The investigators will ask parents and health professionals for their views and whether they would take part in a future trial and information about babies who have recently had a stoma to find out which factors influence the timing of closure. They will also analyse 6 years of data from an existing database, the National Neonatal Research Database to estimate the numbers of babies affected, understand current practice and outcomes for these babies to help decide whether a clinical trial is possible.