Samuel Dekermacher

We report our experience with 23 girls with urethral prolapse. Vaginal bleeding was the most common complaint, and predisposing factors (cough, trauma, and constipation) were found in 10 children. Although reported almost exclusively in black girls, 14 of the 23 patients were white. Three basic techniques were used for therapy: conservative management, ligation over a Foley catheter, and total excision of the prolapse. Ligation over a Foley catheter had a high incidence of complications (partial recurrence, infection, postoperative pain) and is no longer used. The best results were obtained by complete excision of the urethral prolapse. We propose that treatment should be based on the etiopathogenesis of the prolapse and the clinical condition of the child; patients with a single and acute episode of increased abdominal pressure, such as trauma, and those at high risk for general anesthesia are managed by conservative therapy. All others, and patients who fail medical treatment, undergo surgical excision.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome frequently affects the genitalia. Vaginal problems have been recognized in female patients; however, reports about the problem and its treatment are rare. Labial sinechiae have not yet been reported as sequelae of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Amenorrhea, cyclical abdominal pain, and a hypogastric mass in girls affected by Stevens-Johnson syndrome could indicate acquired vaginal obstruction. Extensive labial sinechiae in such patients can cause dysuria, urinary tract infection, and sexual dysfunction. After a diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome in girls, it is prudent to schedule a prepubertal genital examination to diagnose genital disease preemptively and avoid obstructed menstruation and future sexual problems.

Scrotoschisis, the congenital extrusion of the testis through the scrotal wall, is very rare. We describe a new case and review the pertinent published data. A male neonate presented with left scrotoschisis that was repaired successfully with a Denis-Browne trans-scrotal orchiopexy, with antibiotic coverage. The testes were intrascrotal and symmetric after 2 years of follow-up. Most cases of scrotoschisis are unilateral and affect normal males. The immediate prognosis is good, but long-term results are not available. The etiology of the disease is unknown, but it might be related to spontaneous healed fetal intestinal perforations with meconium peritonitis.

We report our experience with 23 girls with urethral prolapse. Vaginal bleeding was the most common complaint, and predisposing factors (cough, trauma, and constipation) were found in 10 children. Although reported almost exclusively in black girls, 14 of the 23 patients were white. Three basic techniques were used for therapy: conservative management, ligation over a Foley catheter, and total excision of the prolapse. Ligation over a Foley catheter had a high incidence of complications (partial recurrence, infection, postoperative pain) and is no longer used. The best results were obtained by complete excision of the urethral prolapse. We propose that treatment should be based on the etiopathogenesis of the prolapse and the clinical condition of the child; patients with a single and acute episode of increased abdominal pressure, such as trauma, and those at high risk for general anesthesia are managed by conservative therapy. All others, and patients who fail medical treatment, undergo surgical excision.