Multiple small bowel atresias

Abstract:Survival among children with short bowel syndrome has increased with the use of supportive nutritional techniques including parenteral and enteral nutrition. Further improvement in outcome has been sought by using intestinal lengthening procedures to lengthen the bowel, improve intestinal motility, initiate a progressive increase in intestinal mucosal mass, and thereby improve tolerance to enteral nutrition. The authors examine the growth parameters and the tolerance to enteral nutrition in children with refractory short bowel syndrome before and after intestinal lengthening procedures. For seven children, the percentage of calories from enteral nutrition, the medical and surgical complications, and the number of days in the hospital (1 year before and 2 years after the lengthening procedure) were evaluated. The mean birth weight was 1,991 g (range, 1,198 to 3,096 g). The initial diagnoses requiring bowel resection included necrotizing enterocolitis, multiple small bowel atresias, gastroschisis with midgut volvulus, cloacal exstrophy, and long-segment Hirschsprung's disease. The mean length of the residual small bowel was 49 cm (range, 6 to 92 cm). All but one child had surgical resection of the ileocecal valve. The percentage of enteral nutrition calories significantly increased by 9 months after the procedure (P < .008, analysis of variance). Only one child has been completely weaned from parenteral nutrition. All children's growth parameters have been maintained or improved (weight/age, height/age, and weight/height). Few major medical and surgical complications have been observed. Central venous catheter infection has been the most common medical complication. The mean number of hospitalization days decreased during the second year after the lengthening procedure. The authors conclude that the intestinal lengthening procedure enhances the tolerance for enteral nutrition, improves the nutritional status, and decreases the need for hospitalization. The procedure should be considered for children with refractory short bowel syndrome who require prolonged parenteral nutrition.

Abstract:Multiple small bowel atresias present a unique challenge because maximum intestinal conservation is mandatory for survival. We recently treated a patient who had multiple atresias using a 7F SILASTIC ® catheter as an intraluminal stent. The catheter facilitated the completion of multiple primary anastomoses and served as a conduit for radiological evaluation and enteral feeding. The patient was a 1,860-g boy with 23 atresias of the jejunum and ileum. All stenotic segments were resected, and seven primary anastomoses were completed over the catheter. The distal 34 cm of bowel were exteriorized as a mucus fistula, with the catheter extending through to the level of the ileocecal valve. The proximal jejunal limb also was exteriorized. Eleven days later, contrast was instilled through the catheter and showed no leak or stricture. The catheter was then used for enteral nutrition and administration of the proximal jejunal effluent. Bowel continuity was reestablished after a tapering enteroplasty of the proximal jejunal limb. Parenteral nutrition was ultimately discontinued. Thirty-one months later, the patient no longer requires supplemental nutritional support. This case demonstrates the safety of multiple primary anastomoses over an exteriorized intraluminal stent. The catheter was useful in the radiological evaluation of the distal limb before it was used as an access route for enteral nutrition.

Abstract:This is a report describing the association of multiple small bowel atresias with multifocal angiodysplasia of the intestinal wall in a newborn. To the authors' knowledge, such association has never been reported.

Abstract:The management of infants with multiple intestinal atresia and complex gastroschisis can represent a challenge to the paediatric surgeon. This case report presents a neonate with multiple jejunal atresias in which a percutaneous foley catheter tube inserted to just beyond the duodenojejunal flexure was used effectively for bowel decompression, instead of the formation of a proximal stoma. By utilising this technique, the well documented complications associated with proximal stomas were avoided, bowel length was preserved and the need for further surgery in the infant was prevented. The infant remained well at six months with no complications at follow-up.