Pediatric Surgical Associates | Category Archives: News

Giggle Incontinence – A Not So Funny Diagnosis

Posted on April 27, 2016 by myliniemi Posted in News

What is Giggle Incontinence?

Giggle Incontinence is an involuntary and complete bladder emptying in response to laughter. The condition generally appears in girls younger than 18 years old, often between 7.5 – 15.5 years old. Most children and young adults who suffer from this condition don’t have any physical abnormalities. The cause is unknown, although a functional relationship to cataplexy (or sudden and transient episode of loss of muscle tone, often triggered by emotions) has been suggested.

Treatment for Giggle Incontinence

We recommend to schedule an appointment with one of our expertly trained Nurse Practitioners for further advice specific to your child. Our Nurse Practitioners will use management and prevention strategies, such as the use of medications and behavioral modifications. If this does not work, and dependent on the child’s condition, our team might discuss surgical options, such as Interstim Neuromodulation therapy.

The Good News

Giggle incontinence is not always a “forever” condition for the majority of children affected. Parents can help their children reduce or completely eliminate symptoms by calling 612-813-8000 (option #3) to set up an appointment and receive an effective treatment plan. Click here to view all of our convenient locations!

Children’s International Surgery Mission Trip to Vietnam

Posted on March 30, 2016 by myliniemi Posted in News

Welcome Back Dr. Reinberg and Dr. Vandersteen!

PSA Urologists, Dr. Reinberg and Dr. Vandersteen, went to Vietnam on a surgical mission trip with the non-profit organization, Children’s Surgery International. Children’s Surgery International (CSI) is a Minnesota-based, nonprofit volunteer organization that provides specialized medical and surgical services to underprivileged children around the world. Dr. Reinberg, Dr. Vandersteen and 24 other medical volunteers went to Vietnam earlier this month. The entire CSI team spent the week long mission trip at Thanh Hoa Pediatric Hospital where they performed 56 surgeries! During their time in Vietnam, the CSI team also provided professional training, education and support to surgeons, nurses and other caregivers in the local community. Well done Dr. Reinberg and Dr. Vandersteen! To read more about Children’s Surgery International and the mission trip to Vietnam, click here.

How Physical Therapy Can Work for Urinary Incontinence in Children

Posted on March 3, 2016 by myliniemi Posted in News

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can be defined as the loss of bladder control, which results in the accidental
loss of urine. A child with urinary incontinence may not stay dry during the day or night. The nurse practitioners at Pediatric Surgical Associates specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence baby march blog post in children.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence can be caused by a health problem such as:

Constipation: a condition in which a child has bowel movements where stool can be hard, dry, small, and difficult to pass or infrequent bowel movements
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Nerve problems
Diabetes: a condition where blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high
Kidney problems
Structural problems in the urinary tract

How Physical Therapy Can Work for Urinary Incontinence in Kids?

Based your child’s condition, our nurse practitioners could recommend physical therapy as a part of their treatment plan. A physical therapist can look at the muscles of the abdomen, legs, and back as well as the child’s diet, sleep patterns, exercise and assess any behavioral issues that may be contributing to the problem. Physical therapists educate kids and parents about exercises that strengthen pelvic floor muscles as well as help develop strategies for overcoming incontinence in school and in social situations through positive reinforcement. Research has shown that proper pelvic floor muscle training and biofeedback dramatically improves voiding dysfunction such as urinary incontinence in children.

Flu Season is Here!

Posted on November 19, 2015 by myliniemi Posted in News

Influenza, commonly known as “the flu” is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. It affects all age groups, although kids tend to get it more often than adults. In the United States, flu season runs from October to May, with most cases happening between late December and early March.

If your child is experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms, please call 612-813-8000 (option 3) to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible. We will not see patients who exhibit the signs and symptoms identified below.

Signs and Symptoms

Flu symptoms defined by the Minnesota Department of Health include: fever, dry cough, sore throat, headache, extreme tiredness, and body aches. These symptoms come on quickly and can be bad enough to keep you in bed for several days.

Prevention

To protect yourself and others, follow these quick tips:

Get vaccinated.
Avoid being around others who are sick.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer.
Protect infants by not exposing them to large crowds or sick family members when flu is in your community.
Do not share drinking cups and straws.
Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (door knobs, refrigerator handles, phones, water faucets).

For more information, go to:

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/basics/fluparent.pdf

http://www.childrensmn.org/educationmaterials/parents/article/8388/influenza-flu/

Midwest Fetal Care Center

Posted on April 17, 2014 by plouiselle Posted in News

The Midwest Fetal Care Center (MWFCC), a partnership of Pediatric Surgical Associates, Children’s Hospital and Abbott Northwestern Hospital, provides maternal and fetal care when a high-risk pregnancy poses challenges. As the only advanced fetal care center in the Upper Midwest – and one of only a few in the United States – MWFCC brings together maternal fetal experts and the latest technology and treatments in a coordinated setting. We’re with patients every step of the way from prenatal diagnosis and fetal treatment to delivery, postnatal care and long-term follow-up.

Highly trained experts. Our fetal surgeons acquired training from world-renowned experts in fetal care surgery, making MWFCC one of only a small number of centers in the U.S. to offer diagnosis and treatment options like in-utero fetoscopy.

Impressive outcomes. For babies needing fetal surgery, MWFCC has among the highest survival rates and the lowest rate of post-operative complications. For premature babies requiring surgery, we have the lowest rate of surgical complications in the nation.

Facilities second to none, all in one location. We perform our fetal interventions and surgeries at The Mother Baby Center, which combines Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s fetal, labor and delivery services with Children’s neonatal program. No matter what level of care is needed, the best mom and baby experts are in one spot and available 24/7.

To contact the MWFCC, please call 855-MWFETAL (855-693-3825). To contact Pediatric Surgical Associates, please call 612-813-8000.

Orchiopexy

Posted on September 11, 2013 by plouiselle Posted in News

Orchiopexy is a surgical procedure to move testicles from the abdomen or groin into the scrotum. Before birth, the testicle moves from the pelvic area down into the scrotum. In some boys, this does not occur and it is called undescended testicles. This issue may require more than one operation depending on the position of the testes and any other associated problems. An Orchiopexy is usually done in early childhood. If undescended testicles are left too long, changes occur which can affect growth and function.

The physicians of Pediatric Surgical Associates perform this surgery more than any other pediatric surgical practice in the Midwest. If you would like to inquire about the services provided through Pediatric Surgical Associates, please give our office a call at (612) 813-8000.

InterStim Therapy for Children

Posted on April 25, 2013 by plouiselle Posted in News

InterStim Therapy is a proven therapy used to treat urge incontinence, urinary frequency and overactive bladder in children. InterStim Therapy targets the communication problem between the brain and the nerves that control the bladder. If the nerves are not communicating properly, the bladder will not function correctly.

The InterStim system uses an external device during a trial assessment period and an internal device for long-term therapy. You and your Pediatric Urologist may decide to try InterStim Therapy by going through a trial assessment period. Based on the trial assessment, you and your Pediatric Urologist will determine the next step that is right for your child.

To learn more about this effective therapy, please call Pediatric Surgical Associates to schedule an appointment. We may be reached at 612-813-8000!

Office-Based Circumcisions

Posted on April 12, 2013 by plouiselle Posted in News

A circumcision is a procedure to surgically remove the foreskin from the penis. This is most often done shortly after birth. On infants less than 27 days old, circumcision can be done in the office. Several methods are used to minimize discomfort and calm your baby during the procedure. These may include LMX (a topical anesthetic cream), a marcaine / lidocaine injection, and a pacifier dipped in sweetened water.

The advantages of office-based circumcisions include greater convenience for the family, lower cost when compared to hospital-based circumcisions and access to surgeons who are specifically trained in this area.

If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about this important service, please call Pediatric Surgical Associates at 612-813-8000.

Patient Education

Posted on March 27, 2013 by plouiselle Posted in News

The physicians, nurse practitioners and nursing staff of Pediatric Surgical Associates are committed to providing our patients and their families with the most relevant patient educational material currently available.

It is our belief that information is the key to understanding the clinical conditions that impact your child. With this information, parents are better equipped to partner with us in treating their child’s condition.

As a start, we have provided educational information on the clinical issues listed below.

Constipation

Dysfunctional Voiding

Nocturnal Enuresis (nighttime bedwetting)

Urinary Tract Infections

Vesicoureteral Reflux

Please contact us at (612) 813-8000 if you would like educational material on any other conditions. We would be happy to provide this to you!

Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)

Posted on March 15, 2013 by plouiselle Posted in News

Pregnancy is one of the most meaningful events in a family’s life. For women carrying twins, however, potentially life-threatening complications can cast a dark cloud over an otherwise joyful time. One third of all identical twins are at risk for developing twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition where the fetuses develop unbalanced circulation through shared placenta vasculature. Non identicle (fraternal) twins are not at risk for TTTS. Without treatment, survival is limited and mortality for both twins is as high as 90% in advanced TTTS.

Operative fetoscopy is the latest technological advance in maternal fetal surgery. During operative fetoscopy for TTTS, a laser fiber is used to coagulate the blood vessels which are inappropriately connecting the twins. The Midwest Fetal Care Center, the only center of its kind in the upper Midwest, has providers skilled in the field of operative fetoscopy for the treatment of TTTS.

Dr. Brad Feltis of Pediatric Surgical Associates, Ltd. is the Surgical Director of the Midwest Fetal Care Center and one of few pediatric surgeons skilled in the management of fetal anomalies and in utero procedures such as Fetoscopic laser ablation therapy.

To find out more information on the Midwest Fetal Care Center or for a referral to the center, please call Pediatric Surgical Associates at (612) 813-8000.