Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants Born to Mother with COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide impact on both pregnant women and their babies. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal emergency in neonates with high morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study aims to investigate the incidence of NEC in preterm infants born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19. Methods: This observational study was conducted in neonatal intensive care unit at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, from May 2020 to April 2021. All preterm infants born to mothers with positive COVID-19 based on swab examination were included as study participants. PCR swab examination was performed within 48 hours after birth. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was defined as positive if the swab test result could detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The diagnosis of NEC was established by clinical symptoms and confirmed by abdominal radiography. Results: Out of 45 preterm infants included in this study, 6 infants experienced NEC. Factors that were significantly associated with the incidence of NEC included asphyxia and intubated mother. Positive PCR results from the infants alone did not significantly increase the risk of NEC. The combination of asphyxia and intubated mother (Odds Ratio [OR]=10.000, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.056-94.677, P=0.020) and the combination of positive PCR result, asphyxia, and intubated mother (OR=2.438, 95% CI=1.673-3.551, P=0.007) were found to be significantly associated with the incidence of NEC Conclusion: Significant factors associated with the incidence of NEC in preterm infants born to mothers with COVID-19 included asphyxia and intubated mothers prior to delivery. A positive PCR result alone did not significantly increase the risk of NEC.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis Mortality: A New Parameter to Predict High Risk

Introduction: Necrotizing enterocolitis, is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the preterm infant and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Predict which infants will progress to more severity stages of the illness and are in high risk for mortality is one of the challenges in relation to this disease. The objective of this study is to identify which factors are associated with mortality in infants diagnoses of NEC in our centre along a 12-year period. Material and Methods: A total of 124 consecutively patients were included in the study diagnosed of NEC at the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, Spain. Information was obtained from medical records to compare patient demographics characteristics, prenatal information, clinical and radiological findings, relevant analytical data, therapeutic management and outcomes of infants who survived NEC and infants who died. Informed consent and ethical review board was obtained. Associations were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Among 124 patients, 110 patients survived NEC and 14 died. In multivariate analysis, the patients who died presented at birth low Apgar levels at minute one, apneas in the neonatal period, coagulopathy and low levels of serum proteins at diagnoses of NEC.

Gastrointestinal emergency care during the COVID-19 pandemic: rapid communication

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with a decrease in the search for medical care. High-risk patients have avoided hospital environments fearing infection. We hypothesize that there was also a decrease in the search for medical care related to gastrointestinal emergencies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of consultations for severe gastrointestinal emergencies during and before the months of the pandemic. METHODS: This was a transversal study. The inclusion criteria were cases of consultation in the emergency department for gastrointestinal diseases that required hospitalization, from January to April, from 2015 to 2020. The pediatric population (under age 12) was excluded. RESULTS: A total of 2,457 cases of cases was included. The number of emergency hospitalizations for gastrointestinal cases decreased during the first four months of 2020: 108, 112, 82, and 77, respectively. Comparing April of 2020 with previous years, there was a lower than expected number of cases during the social distancing period (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: This study reports a pronounced decrease in consultations for severe gastrointestinal emergencies during the pandemic. Governments and society should be aware that health crises do not halt the natural occurrence of noninfectious diseases; otherwise, an increase in mortality from these morbidities may arise.

Comparison of laparoscopic surgery versus traditional laparotomy for the treatment of emergency patients

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic gastrointestinal emergency surgery and postoperative complications. Methods Data for 604 patients undergoing emergency gastrointestinal surgery between January 2013 and December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Treatment efficacy and postoperative complications were compared between 300 patients (control group) undergoing traditional laparotomy and 304 patients (observation group) undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Results Clinical features were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group, including duration of surgery (59.12 ± 10.31 minutes vs. 70.34 ± 12.83 minutes), intraoperative blood loss (41.21 ± 10.45 mL vs. 61.38 ± 9.97 mL), postoperative pain score (1.25 ± 0.25 points. vs. 5.13 ± 0.43 points), length of hospital stay (5.13 ± 0.24 days vs. 7.05 ± 0.13 days), and time to free activity (13 ± 2.96 hours vs. 22 ± 3.02 hours). The total complication incidence in the observation group was 3.9%, compared with 16% in the control group (16%). No significant differences in direct medical costs were recorded between the observation and control groups. Conclusions For patients undergoing emergency gastrointestinal surgery, laparoscopic surgery resulted in better clinical outcomes than traditional laparotomy without incurring additional costs. The potential clinical benefits of emergency laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery warrant further study.

Emphysematous Gastritis Associated with Sarcina ventriculi

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare and lethal gastrointestinal emergency if not promptly identified and managed. In rare cases, emphysematous gastritis is associated with Sarcina ventriculi infection, usually in patients with delayed gastric emptying. Here we report a lethal case of S. ventriculi-associated emphysematous gastritis in the absence of delayed gastric emptying in which the diagnosis was confirmed postmortem. This case provides an opportunity to review the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and management of emphysematous gastritis so that the condition can be promptly diagnosed and managed to prevent significant morbidity and mortality.

An 8-year retrospective review of gastrointestinal medical emergency conditions at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria

Background: Globally, gastrointestinal emergency conditions constitute a considerable proportion of the medical emergency cases seen in the emergency room.Objective: This study investigated the spectrum of gastrointestinal medical emergency conditions seen in the emergency room of Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: The emergency room admission register was used to obtain the following information: Age, Sex, Diagnosis, Year of admission and the Outcome. The period under review was 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2016. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 21.0 software package.Results: A total number of 5,912 patients with medical emergency conditions were admitted into the emergency room during the period under review, out of which 813(13.7%) were gastrointestinal medical emergency conditions. The age range of the patients was 15 to 100years with a mean(±SD) of 47.32±18.938. Acute exacerbation of acid peptic disorders(29.3%) was the most common indication for emergency room admission followed by acute gastroenteritis(26.8%) and decompensated chronic liver disease(14.3%). Decompensated chronic liver disease and upper gastrointestinal bleeding were the conditions with the highest mortality being 31.8% and 29.5% respectively.Conclusion: Gastrointestinal medical conditions are common indications for emergency admission. Measures should be taken to avoid these preventable conditions in a bid to reduce their morbidity and mortality.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis after Octreotide Treatment in a Preterm Newborn with Idiopathic Congenital Chylothorax

Octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, has been used for the management of patients with refractory chylothorax. Side effects related to the gastrointestinal system associated with octreotide are necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and focal intestinal perforation. NEC is the most common and dangerous gastrointestinal emergency in premature infants. We present the development of necrotizing enterocolitis after octreotide treatment in a preterm infant with idiopathic congenital chylothorax which settled after discontinuation of octreotide.

Profile of foreign body ingestion and outcomes of endoscopic management in pediatric population

Background: Foreign body (FB) ingestion is a frequent gastrointestinal emergency in pediatric population. Improvement in endoscopic techniques and equipment enables nonsurgical management in most situations. Recent data from India on pediatric FB ingestion have been lacking. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the profile and outcome after endoscopic management of patients <18 years of age presenting with FB ingestion. Patients and Methods: Records of all the children with FB ingestion who had undergone endoscopic removal at our institution during 5 years (2011–2016) were assessed retrospectively. The nature of FB ingested, and success and complication of endoscopic therapy were analyzed. Results: There were 150 pediatric endoscopies during the study period. Of this, 120 (80%) were for removal of ingested FB. Most common (MC) FB was coin (69%). The retrieved FBs were 83 coins, 13 batteries, 5 pins, 4 clips, 2 each of anklets, keys, marbles, and seeds, one each of spoon, blade, spanner, peanut, toe ring, and a pencil. One had trichobezoar. Esophagus was the MC site of location of FB (85/120). FB removal was successful by flexible endoscopy in 97.1%. Four (0.03%) cases were referred for rigid endoscopic/surgical removal by otolaryngologists/ pediatric surgeon. Except for one child developed bronchopneumonia, there was no morbidity or mortality in the study. Conclusion: Endoscopic removal of FB is a safe procedure with excellent outcomes in a specialized gastroenterology unit.