Intestinal loop lengthening: early treatment of vanishing bowel

Prenatal diagnosis of closed gastroschisis: What to expect in the most severe form of gastroschisis? Case report and literature review

Closed gastroschisis (CG) and vanishing gastroschisis (VG) are the most severe forms of evolution of the malformation. In this case, a fetus presented with gastroschisis at 13 weeks, and the gastroschisis was not visualized at 22 weeks of gestation. Distal ileum, cecum, and ascending colon atresia were diagnosed at surgery, and the child is fully enteral-fed at 5 months of age. In a literature review of 43 cases of prenatal diagnosis of CS-VG, intrauterine death occurred in 4.5% of cases. 79.6% of the cases underwent surgical treatment. Of these cases, 20% of cases died due to complications of treatment, 26% were still under treatment and 54% are alive with enteral feeding. In 77% of the cases, the closure of the umbilical ring occurred after 26 weeks of gestation and the absence of prenatal diagnosis of CG-VG during pregnancy has a risk of 71% of death.

Early Bowel Lengthening Procedures: Bi-Institutional Experience and Review of the Literature

Early bowel lengthening procedure (EBLP) has been defined as any bowel lengthening procedure performed before six months of age. The purpose of this paper is to compare our experience with literature on this subject to identify common indications. A bi-institutional retrospective analysis was performed. Diagnosis, type of surgery, age at procedure and outcomes were analysed. Eleven EBLP were performed in Manchester and Florence from 2006 to 2021. The median age at surgery was 126 days (102–180), pre-operative median short bowel (SB) length was 28 cm (17–49) with a post-operative median increase of 81%. Furthermore, a PubMed/Embase search was undertaken regarding bowel lengthening procedures performed in the last 40 years. Sixty-one EBLP were identified. The median age was 60 days (1–90). Serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) was the most frequent procedure used, with a median increased bowel length of 57%. This study confirms that no clear consensus on indication or timing to perform early SB lengthening is reported. According to the gathered data, EBLP should be considered only in cases of actual necessity and performed in a qualified intestinal failure centre.

Vanishing Gastroschisis with a Favorable Outcome after a 3-Year Follow-Up: A Case Report and Literature Review

Vanishing gastroschisis (VG) is a severe complication of gastroschisis with a high mortality rate. We report here a case of VG with a favorable outcome after a 3-year follow-up. A 26-year-old primigravida woman was referred to Strasbourg University Hospital because her fetus was diagnosed with an isolated gastroschisis at 13-week gestation. The ultrasound evolution was marked by a progressive closure of the abdominal wall defect from 19-week gestation and the appearance of dilated intra-abdominal loops. The child was born with a closed abdominal wall except a small remnant at the level of the former gastroschisis orifice. Explorative laparotomy revealed extensive midgut atresia with only 50 cm of remaining midgut. A jejunocolic anastomosis was performed. The child is now 3 years old and has a favorable outcome with only 2 nights a week of parenteral nutrition. A total of 39 cases of VG type D from Perrone et al. classification are described in the literature from 1991 to 2019, among which 19 (48.7%) are alive at the time of publication but only 4 cases are described with a long-term follow-up of 3 years or more. This is the fifth case described with a favorable evolution after 3-year follow-up.

Vanishing gastroschisis visualized by antenatal ultrasound: a case report and review of literature

We report a case of vanishing gastroschisis visualized by antenatal ultrasound with a 7-year long term follow-up. Currently, the child is still dependent on daily parenteral nutrition with no signs of hepatotoxicity. To our knowledge, it's the fourth case with a long-term follow-up. Vanishing gastroschisis is a rare complication of gastroschisis. However, physicians should be aware of it because its prognosis is worse than classical gastroschisis. When a vanishing gastroschisis is visualized or suspected by antenatal ultrasound, prenatal counseling is required with explanations about the risk of short bowel syndrome, the need of parenteral nutrition and related complications (inflammatory colitis, sepsis, liver failure and organ transplant). Mortality rate was initially around 93%, and dropped to 27% after the years 2000 (versus 10% for classical gastroschisis). After birth, all children will require surgery, and sometimes autologous gastro-intestinal reconstruction. Most survivors (68%) could be taken off the TPN. Unfortunately, long-term outcomes for children with vanishing gastroschisis are still missing in current literature.

Early structured surgical management plan for neonates with short bowel syndrome may improve outcomes

BACKGROUND

In children with short bowel syndrome, maximal adaptation of the bowel after extensive resection is thought to occur during the first 2 years of life. The aim of the present study was to review children with short bowel syndrome from two intestinal rehabilitation centers, comparing those undergoing lengthening procedures <365 days of age (early) versus those whose lengthening procedure was carried out >365 days of age (late).

METHODS

Retrospective data collection was performed from January 2004 to December 2010 in Manchester, UK, and from December 2006 to December 2010 in Brussels, Belgium. Both medical centers follow a similar intestinal rehabilitation program (IRP). Data collected included population demographics, bowel length preoperatively and postoperatively, age at operation, parenteral nutrition (PN), central access, and complications.

RESULTS

Complete data were available for eight children who underwent lengthening surgery at <365 days of age, and six who underwent the procedure at >365 days of age. Diagnoses were similar. Groups were matched for gestation and birthweight, with no statistical difference in preoperative and postoperative bowel lengths. The mean duration of PN postoperatively was 378 days in the early cohort and 589 days in the late cohort. This trended toward statistical significance (p = 0.071). Full enteral autonomy was achieved at 17 months (early) and 59 months (late) (p = 0.01). Patients in the early group required fewer central lines than those operated on later (p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Enrolling children into an IRP involving early (<365 days of age) lengthening surgery allows a shorter postoperative time to allow weaning to full enteral nutrition, as well as fewer central lines. Both outcomes provide benefits for the child and family, allowing an earlier return to normal life.

Comparison of LILT and STEP procedures in children with short bowel syndrome -- a systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

To compare LILT and STEP, the two principal procedures to lengthen the native bowel in children with a short bowel syndrome (SBS), by discussing the indications and presenting the outcome from published data.

METHODS

A review of literature was performed. N=39 publications were reviewed.

RESULTS

For LILT and STEP, failure to achieve intestinal autonomy by conservative therapy represents the main indication, and end-stage liver disease the main contraindication. A sufficiently dilated intestinal segment is a common anatomical precondition for both procedures. STEP can be performed on shorter intestinal segments and on intricate segments such as the duodenum, which is technically not feasible for LILT. Both procedures have a similar extent of intestinal lengthening (approximately 70%) and result in improvement of enteral nutrition and reversal of complications of parenteral nutrition. STEP seems to have a lower mortality and overall progression to transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

STEP and LILT are both accepted procedures for non-transplant surgical management of SBS in children. The outcome after STEP seems to be more favourable, but larger series are needed to further assess accurate selection of eligible patients and to estimate effectiveness of procedures. A considerably higher number of cases for evaluation might be accomplished through the widespread use of a centralised registry.