Surgical stage of treatment of hepatoblastoma in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt: results of two clinical case

Hepatoblastoma is considered the most common malignant tumor with a stable tendency towards increased incidence in children. Prematurity is recognized as one of the significant risk factors associated with its development. Prematurity often coexists with a wide range of comorbid conditions, particularly in cases of deep prematurity stage IV. Such children are predisposed to a significant risk of intraventricular bleeding and chronic lung conditions, including bronchoalveolar dysplasia. The incidence of intraventricular bleeding is estimated to be between 20–40 %, while bronchoalveolar dysplasia ranges from 35–80 %. In cases of hepatoblastoma in premature children with these comorbid conditions, the surgical management stage (which typically includes chemotherapy) carries additional risks. There is limited data available regarding abdominal surgery in such patients, and notably, there have been no documented examples of extensive liver resections in this population. In this article, we will discuss two clinical cases detailing the surgical management of children with prematurity.