Sudden death of a child because of an intestinal obstruction caused by a large congenital mesenteric defect

An infant autopsy case of bowel obstruction due to internal abdominal hernia

Internal abdominal hernia, defined as protrusion of viscera through a defect of the mesentery, has been considered a rare clinical entity. Recent clinical reviews reported a wide range of onset age (from newborns to the elderly) and symptoms (from minimal abdominal symptoms to severe acute abdomen). Sudden and unexpected death due to internal abdominal hernia is rare in infants or toddlers, and only 4 autopsy cases had been reported previously. We report the case of a 3-month-old Japanese boy who unexpectedly died 4 h after first vomiting. Autopsy showed a wide bowel obstruction with necrosis through a congenital mesenteric defect. The larynx was filled with gastric content (milky white viscous muddy material). In the cross section of both lungs, the same material was found to be expressed from the bronchioles. We diagnosed the cause of death as asphyxiation by viscous milk/vomitus aspiration caused by bowel obstruction due to an internal abdominal hernia. In case of sudden and unexpected death of an infant, autopsy is crucial to determine the cause of death. During autopsy, it is helpful to determine the character and distribution of gastric and airway contents to confirm milk or vomitus aspiration.

Gastrointestinal causes of sudden unexpected death: A review

Gastrointestinal conditions are a less common cause of sudden unexpected death when compared to other conditions such as cardiovascular conditions, but they are equally important. Various congenital and acquired gastrointestinal conditions that have resulted in sudden unexpected death are discussed. The possible lethal mechanisms behind each condition, along with any associated risk factors or secondary diseases, have been described. Through this article, we aim to highlight the need for physicians to prevent death in such conditions by ensuring that subclinical cases are diagnosed correctly before it is too late and by providing timely and efficacious treatment to the patient concerned. In addition, this review would certainly benefit the forensic pathologist while dealing with cases of sudden unexpected death due to gastrointestinal causes. This article is a review of the major gastrointestinal causes of sudden unexpected death. In addition, related fatal cases encountered occasionally in forensic autopsy practice are also included. There are several unusual and rare causes of life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding that may lead to sudden unexpected death to cover all the entities in detail. Nevertheless, this article is a general guide to the topic of gastrointestinal causes of sudden unexpected death.

Internal Hernia as a Cause for Intestinal Obstruction in a Newborn

BACKGROUND

An internal hernia is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, which can occur at any age. Children most often develop an internal hernia due to a congenital defect in the mesentery. While some patients are asymptomatic, others present to medical attention with vague abdominal symptoms, an acute abdomen, or in shock.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a 5-day-old previously healthy baby who presented to our pediatric emergency department with bilious vomiting, grossly bloody stool, and abdominal distention. During an exploratory laparotomy, the patient was diagnosed with an internal hernia caused by a congenital mesenteric defect. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Although internal hernia is an infrequent cause of intestinal obstruction in a newborn and requires emergent operative repair, it may be mistaken for other more common causes, such as necrotizing entercolitis, which are often managed medically. This case report aims to highlight some of the difficulties in diagnosis and key features that may assist the clinician in identifying these patients.

Congenital mesenteric hernia in neonates: Still a dilemma

Congenital transmesenteric hernia in neonates is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction with devastating outcomes and still remains a challenge to diagnose pre-operatively. Patients are often managed with emergency surgical exploration and may need bowel resection. We present 2 neonates with small bowel obstruction secondary to strangulated transmesenteric hernia through a congenital defect in the small bowel mesentery, which were managed successfully. We have also reviewed the literature about congenital transmesenteric hernia in neonates.

Apple peel deformity of the small bowel without atresia in a congenital mesenteric defect

Congenital mesenteric defects are rare causes of bowel obstruction. Even rarer are mesenteric defects with an apple peel type of deformity, probably described definitively only once previously. We present a case of a 3 year old boy who presented with a septic-like picture of severe metabolic acidosis and lethargy from a bowel obstruction with bowel ischemia. At laparotomy he was found to have bowel infarction due to herniation through a congenital mesenteric defect with an apple peel type of deformity of the bowel without bowel atresia.