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Early history of endoscopic correction of vesico-ureteric reflux: the Dublin contribution
Journal of Pediatric Surgery (2009) 44, 1672–1674
www.elsevier.com/locate/jpedsurg
Correspondence
Early history of endoscopic correction of vesico-ureteric reflux: the Dublin contribution To the Editor, Endoscopic correction of vesico-ureteric reflux is now the most common therapeutic intervention for the condition. Although much of the impetus for its use has emanated from Dublin, Ireland, there is some uncertainty about the origin of the innovation. Matouschek [1,2] described the use of Teflon injected endoscopically under the ureteric ostium in 1981 in German and Spanish journals. In 1984, O'Donnell and Puri [3,4], while unaware of the previous publications, described a similar technique. The original concept of O'Donnell of the endoscopic deposit of a bulking agent under ureteric orifice was developed by Puri, who proposed Teflon (polytef) as the agent. Experimental work on piglets was carried out, but none of this was done endoscopically. The agent was introduced via a porcine cystotomy. The first endoscopic corrections of vesico-ureteric in Dublin were not done by O'Donnell on pigs but on human patients on March 5, 1984, and it was he who coined the acronym STING (Subureteric Teflon Injection). A series of successful clinical interventions followed and were reported in English [4]. We the undersigned were, with O'Donnell, the only 3 consultant pediatric surgeons on the staff of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland, at the time of the development of the procedure. EJ Guiney was also professor and director of the Children's Research Center. We are pleased to place on record our memory of the sequence of thought and events that resulted in the evolution of this important technique. Yours sincerely, E.J. Guiney Raymond. J. Fitzgerald The Anatomy Department Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin 2, Ireland E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2009.05.014 0022-3468/$ – see front matter © 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.
References [1] Matouschek E. Die behandlung des vesikorenalen refluxes durch transurethrale einspritzung von teflonpast. Urologe 1981;20:263-4. [2] Matouschek E. Sobre un nuevo concepto para el tratamiento del reflujo vesicoureteral. Aplicacion endoscopica de Teflon. Arch Esp Urol 1981;34(5):385-8. [3] Puri P, O'Donnell B. Correction of experimentally produced vesicoureteric reflux in the piglet by the intra-vesical injection of Teflon. Br Med J 1984;89:5-7. [4] O'Donnell B, Puri P. Treatment of vesicoureteric reflux in the piglet by intravesical injection of Teflon. Br Med J 1984;89:7-9.
Letter to the Editor To the Editor, 1I read with interest the article of colleague Alqahtani [1] on thoracoscopic-assisted central line placement for a thrombosed superior vena cava. I agree that the technique described can be advantageous in children whose larger veins are not available for cannulation. Dr Alqahtani claims that this is an innovative technique. I would like to point out, however, that we published on this matter in Surgical Endoscopy as early as 1996 [2]. We cannulated the azygos vein using a thoracoscopic-assisted technique and speculated that a similar technique could be used for cannulation of other intrathoracic vessels (eg, the distal part of the superior vena cava). In 1999, we referred to this technique again in the book Endoscopic Surgery in Children [3], and recently, in 2008, we published this technique in Endoscopic Surgery in Infants and Children [4]. Klaas (N.)M.A. Bax Department of Pediatric Surgery Sophia Children's Hospital/Erasmus Medical Center PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam The Netherlands E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2009.03.043
www.elsevier.com/locate/jpedsurg
Correspondence
Early history of endoscopic correction of vesico-ureteric reflux: the Dublin contribution To the Editor, Endoscopic correction of vesico-ureteric reflux is now the most common therapeutic intervention for the condition. Although much of the impetus for its use has emanated from Dublin, Ireland, there is some uncertainty about the origin of the innovation. Matouschek [1,2] described the use of Teflon injected endoscopically under the ureteric ostium in 1981 in German and Spanish journals. In 1984, O'Donnell and Puri [3,4], while unaware of the previous publications, described a similar technique. The original concept of O'Donnell of the endoscopic deposit of a bulking agent under ureteric orifice was developed by Puri, who proposed Teflon (polytef) as the agent. Experimental work on piglets was carried out, but none of this was done endoscopically. The agent was introduced via a porcine cystotomy. The first endoscopic corrections of vesico-ureteric in Dublin were not done by O'Donnell on pigs but on human patients on March 5, 1984, and it was he who coined the acronym STING (Subureteric Teflon Injection). A series of successful clinical interventions followed and were reported in English [4]. We the undersigned were, with O'Donnell, the only 3 consultant pediatric surgeons on the staff of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland, at the time of the development of the procedure. EJ Guiney was also professor and director of the Children's Research Center. We are pleased to place on record our memory of the sequence of thought and events that resulted in the evolution of this important technique. Yours sincerely, E.J. Guiney Raymond. J. Fitzgerald The Anatomy Department Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Dublin 2, Ireland E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2009.05.014 0022-3468/$ – see front matter © 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.
References [1] Matouschek E. Die behandlung des vesikorenalen refluxes durch transurethrale einspritzung von teflonpast. Urologe 1981;20:263-4. [2] Matouschek E. Sobre un nuevo concepto para el tratamiento del reflujo vesicoureteral. Aplicacion endoscopica de Teflon. Arch Esp Urol 1981;34(5):385-8. [3] Puri P, O'Donnell B. Correction of experimentally produced vesicoureteric reflux in the piglet by the intra-vesical injection of Teflon. Br Med J 1984;89:5-7. [4] O'Donnell B, Puri P. Treatment of vesicoureteric reflux in the piglet by intravesical injection of Teflon. Br Med J 1984;89:7-9.
Letter to the Editor To the Editor, 1I read with interest the article of colleague Alqahtani [1] on thoracoscopic-assisted central line placement for a thrombosed superior vena cava. I agree that the technique described can be advantageous in children whose larger veins are not available for cannulation. Dr Alqahtani claims that this is an innovative technique. I would like to point out, however, that we published on this matter in Surgical Endoscopy as early as 1996 [2]. We cannulated the azygos vein using a thoracoscopic-assisted technique and speculated that a similar technique could be used for cannulation of other intrathoracic vessels (eg, the distal part of the superior vena cava). In 1999, we referred to this technique again in the book Endoscopic Surgery in Children [3], and recently, in 2008, we published this technique in Endoscopic Surgery in Infants and Children [4]. Klaas (N.)M.A. Bax Department of Pediatric Surgery Sophia Children's Hospital/Erasmus Medical Center PO Box 2060, 3000 CB Rotterdam The Netherlands E-mail address: [email protected] doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2009.03.043