Surgical Management of Intussusception in Children: A Retrospective Review of 212 Cases

Objectives The primary objective of this study was to analyze and review the demographics of children operated upon for intussusception. Secondary objectives were to review the clinical characteristics, surgical procedures performed, postoperative complications, and outcome. Materials and Methods It is a single-institution, retrospective study and consists of children below the age of 12 years. This study was conducted at the author’s department of pediatric surgery for the past 21 years, from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2020. Results During the study period, 212 children were operated upon for intussusceptions and included 146 (68.86%) boys and 66 (31.13%) girls. This review consisted of infants 158 (74.52%), and children of 1 to 5 years of age (30; 14.15%), and 6 to 12 years of age (24; 11.32%). Clinically, 177 (83.49%) children presented with the features of acute intestinal obstruction, and the remaining 35 (16.5%) presented with features of perforation peritonitis. Primary (idiopathic) intussusception was documented in 188 (88.67%) of the cases. Gangrenous bowel was evident in 98 (46.22%) children. Sixty-two percent of the cases required bowel resection. Surgical procedures were executed in children for intussusception in the following order of frequency: (1) operative reduction with or without serosal tear/bowel perforation repair, n = 81 (38.2%); (2) resection of diseased ileum and ileoileal anastomosis, n = 52 (24.52%); (3) resection of diseased ileum ± part of colon and an ileostomy, n = 36 (16.98%); and (4) resection of diseased ileum, cecum, part of colon, and ileocolic (ileo-ascending or ileo-transverse) anastomosis, n = 43 (20.28%). Postoperatively, 9 (4.24%) children required reexploration for the management of their complications. Twenty-one (9.9%) children died during the postoperative period. Conclusion Intussusception remains the most common cause of acute intestinal obstruction in infants and young children. Delay in the referral, diagnosis, and seeking treatment were significantly associated with bowel gangrene, required bowel resection during the surgical therapy, and also culminated in significantly higher mortalities.

Review of Management of Ileosigmoid Knotting

Ileosigmoid knotting (ISK) is a rare type of intestinal obstruction caused by knotting of the mesentery of the ileum or sigmoid colon that rapidly progresses to gangrene with a high risk of mortality and high morbidity. The incidence of ISK is not well established, but it is higher in regions with high rates of sigmoid volvulus and in countries along the sigmoid belt. Clinical presentation is that of both small-bowel and large bowel obstruction and includes vomiting and nausea, abdominal pain, tenderness, and distention, with constipation. A contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) scan is the preferred modality for imaging. Management involves hemodynamic stabilisation with correction of shock using aggressive fluid resuscitation, electrolyte balance and commencement of antibiotics. Principles of surgery include resection of the knot, resection of the gangrenous bowel and establishing intestinal continuity. The outcome is generally complicated by peritonitis and sepsis that lead to mortality.

Sustaining viability in a pre-gangrenous bowel with midgut volvulus

Midgut volvulus is a condition peculiar to neonates having acute abdomen. The condition is anticipated in any neonate having bilious vomitus and inability to pass stools. This being a surgical emergency does not sanction any time-consuming radiological procedures, thus, history and the clinical picture are sufficient to warrant surgical exploration. A sick neonate in the 2nd week of life presented with all signs and symptoms of midgut volvulus for which he was explored. Exploration gave the outlook of a necrotic midgut along its entire length. No haste was made in resection as it had a fatal prognosis for survival, instead, watchful waiting opted after necessary measures were taken to allow for the resumption of perfusion. Not only the baby survived to undergo a relook laparotomy showing marked improvement but also showed improvement in lab values and started passing stool and tolerating orally after a wait of three weeks post 1st laparotomy. Midgut volvulus leading to seemingly necrotic intestine should be given due consideration by relook surgery. The alternative would be total resection followed by short bowel syndrome, need for an intestinal transplant while being on TPN. This approach gives an immense advantage by giving the gut a fair chance to restore its perfusion by gut rest after de-twisting.

The efficacy of delayed, repeated reduction enema in management of intussusception

Background Management of intussusception varies according to the case, time of presentation, cause, and symptoms. In this study, we focus on describing the demographic and sonographic characteristics of children with intussusception with failed initial enema reduction who were managed by delayed repeated enema attempts and identify predictors associated with successful repeated reduction. Results This study was conducted in the period from December 2018 to April 2020 at university hospitals (pediatric surgery unit). This study included 40 patients with intussusceptions; 27 are males, and 13 of them are females. Their ages ranged from 5 months to 3 years old. Patients in this study had failed initial enema reduction attempts under sonographic guidance and had subsequent delayed (≥ 2 h from the initial attempt) repeated enemas made up the study population. Of the 40 patients, 34 patients (85%) were successfully reduced, and 6 patients (15%) failed reduction and required surgical intervention. There were no deaths, perforation, or resection of gangrenous bowel. Two cases showed recurrences, but required no surgical intervention. It is also noted that early presentation (< 12 h), stable, non-complicated, and with little or no bloody diarrhea are predictors of successful DRE. Conclusion Delayed repeated enema in the treatment of intussusception is a viable option in patients with unsuccessful initial enema reduction provided that early presentation, stable vitals, and no signs of perforation or peritonitis are present.

Management of Patent Vitellointestinal Duct in Infants

Objectives This study was undertaken to investigate and review the clinical presentation, surgical procedures executed, and the final outcome of infants managed for the patent vitellointestinal duct. Materials and Methods This is a single-institution, retrospective study and included infants who were operated for the patent vitellointestinal duct. This study was conducted at author’s Department of Paediatric Surgery during the last 20 years; from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. Results A total of 24 infants were operated for the patent vitellointestinal duct during the study period and comprised 20 (83.3%) boys and 4 (16.6%) girls. The age of infants ranged from 7 days to 10 months, with a mean of 88.41 ± 64.9 days. Twenty-three (95.8%) infants were operated within 6 months of the age, 17 (70.8%) of them were operated within 3 months of the age. Only one (4.1%) infant was operated at the age of 10 months. Among 24 infants, 13 (54.1%) were presented with features suggestive of acute intestinal obstruction and remaining 11 (45.8%) were presented with fecal discharges through the umbilicus without intestinal obstruction. Among 13 infants who presented with acute intestinal obstruction, 12 had prolapsed bowel and 6 of them also had gangrenous bowel. Operative procedures were executed (n = 24) in the following order of frequency: (1) resection of patent vitellointestinal duct, wide wedge resection of ileum,and ileal repair (n = 13, 54.1%); (2) resection of patent vitellointestinal duct, small segment of ileum, and ileoileal anastomosis (n = 9, 37.5%); and (3) resection of patent vitellointestinal duct, segment of ileum, and an ileostomy (n = 2, 8.33%). Postoperatively, two (8.3%) infants developed anastomotic leak and peritonitis one each, later on, both of them died. Conclusion Patent vitellointestinal duct not only present with fecal discharges through the umbilicus but half of the infants presented with prolapsed bowel and with features of acute small bowel obstruction. Delay in seeking treatment for such cases was associated with considerable morbidity and mortality and therefore the patent vitellointestinal duct should be excised at the earliest.

Sigmoid Volvulus in the Developing Countries: The Lack of Resources Might be a Blessing in Disguise

BackgroundSigmoid volvulus is the most common type of volvulus. Its epidemiological features as well as its management differ between developed and developing countries. Tis work aims to analyze the epidemiological features and to access the surgical management of sigmoid volvulus in Tunisia, which is a developing country from North Africa and where there is a paucity of information regarding sigmoid volvulus.MethodsThis is a retrospective review of 64 patients with sigmoid volvulus treated in the General Surgery department of Jendouba Hospital in Tunisia from January 2005 to December 2019. In the absence of endoscopic management, all patients underwent surgical treatment.Results:64 patients were treated for acute sigmoid volvulus. There were 54 (84.4%) men with a male to female ratio of 5.4/1. The mean age was 62 years. The classic triad of abdominal pain, abdominal distention and constipation was reported in 56 (87.5%) patients. The mean duration of symptoms was 4.2 days. The accurate preoperative diagnosis was made in 58 (90.62%) cases. Forty patients (74%) had viable bowel obstruction and all of them had resection and primary anastomosis. Sixteen patients had gangrenous bowel obstruction of which 6 patients had resection-primary anastomosis and 10 had Hartmann’s procedure. Out of the total five deaths reported, there were only two among patients who had resection-primary anastomosis for gangrenous bowel obstruction. The commonest post-operative complication was surgical site infection in 5 cases (35.71%). The median length of hospital stay following surgery was 8 days (range 5 – 18 days). None of the patients had recurrences of volvulus after median follow up of 11 months.Conclusion Although Tunisia belongs to the volvulus belt, the epidemiologic features of sigmoid volvulus are not similar to those reported in the other African countries and tend rather to be similar to those of developed countries. Our results show that the absence of non-operative treatment can be tolerable and surgical management should be advocated as much as possible.

Management of Intussusceptions Secondary to Pathological Lead Points in Infants and Children

Objectives This study was undertaken to investigate and review the age, sex, clinical presentation, surgical procedures done, major postoperative complications, and the final outcome of infants and children operated for intussusceptions secondary to pathological lead points (PLPs). Materials and Methods This is a single-institution, retrospective study and included infants and children below the age of 12 years who were operated for the secondary intussusceptions. This study was conducted at author’s Department of Paediatric Surgery during the last 20 years; from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. Results During the study period, 200 infants and children were operated for the intussusceptions, and 23 (11.5%) of them were operated for the intussusceptions secondary to PLPs. This review comprised 18 (78.26%) boys and 5 (21.73%) girls, and consisted of infants (n = 9, 39.13%) and children of 1 to 5 years of age (n = 7, 30.43%) and 6 to 12 years of age (n = 7, 30.43%). The age at presentation ranged from 3 months to 10 years, with the mean age of 41.47 ± 40.06 months. Clinically, all the children presented with features of acute intestinal obstruction. Ultrasonography (USG) examination of the abdomen revealed the diagnosis of intussusception in all of them but not able to document the PLPs as a cause for it. During the exploratory laparotomies, gangrenous bowel was detected in 15 (65.21%) cases. PLPs causing intussusceptions were Meckel’s diverticulum (n = 17, 73.91%), begin ileal growth (n = 4, 17.39%), benign ileal polyp (n = 1, 4.34%), and caecal lymphoma (n = 1, 4.34%). Surgical procedures were executed in the following order of frequency: (1) resection of segment of ileum including PLP, and ileoileal anastomosis (n = 13, 56.52%); (2) resection of segment of ileum including PLP, caecum and part of ascending colon, and ileoascending anastomosis (n = 5, 21.73%); (3) Meckel’s diverticulectomy (n = 3, 13.04%); and (4) resection of segment of ileum including PLP and terminal ileostomy (n = 2, 8.69%). This study documented two (8.69%) deaths in postoperative period. Conclusion Meckel’s’ diverticulum was the commonest pathology for the secondary intussusceptions in infants and children and documented most frequently during infancy. Half of the secondary intussusceptions occurred within 24 months of age. Bowel resection was required in more than 85% of the cases during the surgical procedures.

Ileosigmoid Knotting: Analysis of Patients Clinical Profiles and Determinants of Outcomes

Introduction. Ileosigmoid knotting (ISK) is an uncommon form of bowel obstruction due to wrapping of the ileum or sigmoid colon around the base of the other. It is associated with poor prognosis. Data on ISK are scarce in our country. The aim of this study was to assess clinical profiles, management, and outcome of patients operated for ISK. Methodology. A retrospective analysis of all patients operated for ISK at St. Paul’s hospital millennium medical college (SPHMMC) from February 2014 to January 2020 was performed. Results. A total of 28 patients (M: F = 3 : 1) were studied. The mean age was 41.7 years (SD ± 19.5) and ranged from 18 to 80 years. The mean duration of illness was 1.6 days (SD ± 1.1). Abdominal pain and vomiting were seen in all patients followed by abdominal distention (24, 85.7%) and failure to pass feces or flatus (23, 82.1%). Preoperative diagnosis was correct in 6 (21.4%) patients. Almost all patients (26, 92.8%) had gangrenous bowel. The commonest procedure performed was resection of the gangrenous segments with primary ileoileal anastomosis and sigmoid end colostomy (16, 57.1%). Complications were seen in 11 (39.3%) patients and the commonest being surgical site infection (SSI) (7, 25%). Death occurred in 6 (21.4%) patients, and it was significantly (p=0.020) associated with intraoperative shock (systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 90 mmHg). Conclusion. ISK lacks specific clinical features and imposes a significant rate of bowel strangulation, which deserves high index of suspicion and urgent laparotomy. The choice of surgical procedure should be determined by intraoperative bowel status and patients’ general condition.