Newborns, requiring surgery in prone position, should have pads under the chest and shoulders to allow free excursion of abdomen for assisted breathing; they require pulse oximetery probe, intravenous line, ECG leads, EtCO2 tube, ETT and head cover. (Professor Naeem Khan)
Every unit especially neonatal unit, should be prepared all the time for putting in an underwater seal drainage in developing pneumothorax. It takes a pack of 4 artery forceps, 1 knife, 1 pair of scissors, 1 needle holder, 1 ampule of local anesthetic, few gauge pieces, some pyodine, small prepared under water seal bottle and a chest tube (Size 10F nasogastric tube will suffice) in the pack.
EVERY ONE (and not only the surgeons) SHOULD LEARN TO PUT UNDEWATER SEAL DRAIN. (Professor Naeem Khan)
TEF with 13 pairs of ribs and anomalous 2nd lumbar vertebra
X-ray of one day old male child with tracheoesophageal fistula showing 13 pairs of ribs and anomalous L2 vertebra. Coiling of feeding tube is also noted. TEF with 13 pairs of ribs is generally associated with long gap atresia which was also noted in this case intraoperatively1.
Reference:Kulkarni B, Rao RS, Oak S, Upadhyaya MA. 13 pairs of ribs –a predictor of long gap atresia in tracheoesophageal fistula. J Pediatr Surg 1997; 32(10): 1453-4.
Uday Ambi, Navya C N, Ramesh Hatti
S N Medical College, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India
