Clinical variants of abdominal surgical pathology in premature infants

Abstract

Introduction. In the majority of cases, acute abdominal pathology in premature newborns masks as necrotizing enterocolitis and, if there are no signs of intestinal perforation, conservative therapy is prescribed. The article discusses rare forms of acute surgical pathology in premature newborns.Clinical observations. In the first clinical case, a premature baby had an initial air leak syndrome (pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum). The Meckel’s diverticulitis with perforation without peritonitis was found during surgery. In the second case, a newborn child with body weight 1160 grams on the 21st day of his life developed ileoileal intussusception. In the third case, a newborn child had the duodenal membrane which was excised on the 5th day of life. On the 11th postoperative day, a picture of perforated hollow organ in the abdominal cavity developed. Destructive appendicitis was found intra-operatively. All patients clinically recovered.Conclusion. Ultrasound examination, as an early diagnostic option, can help to suspect a surgical pathology at an early stage. The described clinical cases are rare in pediatric surgeon’s practice but they require a cautious approach from both narrow clinical specialists and diagnostic specialists.