ATRESIA OF THE DUODENUM: A CASE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY DUODENODUODENOSTOMY

Congenital duodenal obstruction - Advances in diagnosis, surgical management, and associated controversies

Congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) occurs due to intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms but is most often caused by intrinsic duodenal atresia and stenosis. This review will summarize the history, epidemiology, and etiologies associated with the most common causes of CDO. The clinical presentation, complex diagnostic considerations, and current surgical repair options for duodenal atresia and stenosis will also be discussed. Finally, both historical and recent controversies which continue to affect the surgical decision-making in the management of these patients will be highlighted.

Quality of life outcomes in children born with duodenal atresia

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine long term quality of life (QoL) outcome for children who underwent surgery for duodenal atresia (DA).

METHODS

Patients were identified from a prospective database of neonatal DA cases managed at a tertiary pediatric surgical centre. The QoL was measured using the validated PedsQL™ 4.0 core score and PedsQL™ gastrointestinal module; higher score equates to better QoL. Participants' scores were compared to published control cohorts, age-matching the core score. Trisomy 21 was identified a priori as a possible confounder, informing subgroup analyses for children with and without trisomy 21.

RESULTS

Fifty-five families were invited to participate, with 38 surveys returned (39% male; median age 6.7y, range 2.7-17.3y). Seven participants had trisomy 21. There were no differences in QoL measures between all DA participants and controls. The PedsQL™ core score was significantly lower for DA participants with trisomy 21, but there was no accompanying difference in PedsQL™ gastrointestinal score.

CONCLUSIONS

Children undergoing DA surgery in the neonatal period typically grow up to have a QoL comparable to a healthy population. Children with DA and trisomy 21 were more likely to have reduced overall QoL, albeit without an associated difference in gastrointestinal QoL score.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognosis study - level II (prospective cohort study).

Duodeno-duodenostomy or duodeno-jejunostomy for duodenal atresia: is one repair better than the other?

PURPOSE

The surgical management of neonates with duodenal atresia (DA) involves re-establishment of intestinal continuity, either by duodeno-duodenostomy (DD) or by duodeno-jejunostomy (DJ). Although the majority of pediatric surgeons perform DD repair preferentially, we aimed to analyze the outcome of DA neonates treated with either surgical technique.

METHODS

Following ethical approval (REB:1000047737), we retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who underwent DA repair between 2004 and 2014. Patients with associated esophageal/intestinal atresias and/or anorectal malformations were excluded. Outcome measures included demographics (gender, gestational age, and birth weight), length of mechanical ventilation, time to first and full feed, length of hospital admission, weight at discharge (z-scores), and postoperative complications (anastomotic stricture/leak, adhesive obstruction, and need for re-laparotomy). Both DD and DJ groups were compared using parametric or non-parametric tests, with data presented as mean ± SD or median (interquartile range).

RESULTS

During the study period, 92 neonates met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 47 (51%) had DD and 45 (49%) DJ repair. All procedures were performed open, apart from one laparoscopic DJ. Overall, DD and DJ groups had similar demographics. Likewise, we found no differences between the two groups for length of ventilation (p = 0.6), time to first feed (p = 0.5), time to full feed (p = 0.4), length of admission (p = 0.6), prokinetic use (p = 0.5), nor weight at discharge (p = 0.1). When the 30/92 (33%) patients with trisomy-21 (DD = 16, DJ = 14) were excluded from analysis, the groups still had similar weight at discharge (p = 0.2). Postoperative complication rate was not different between the two groups. One patient per group died, due to respiratory failure (DD) and sepsis (DJ).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that in neonates with duodenal atresia, duodeno-duodenostomy and duodeno-jejunostomy have similar outcomes. These findings are relevant for surgeons who repair duodenal atresia laparoscopically, as duodeno-jejunostomy had equal clinical outcomes and may be easier to perform.

Congenital obstruction of the small intestine in two premature infants

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