Major congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract among the newborns in one of the English Caribbean Countries, 1993 - 2012

Abstract

Background: To study the prevalence and pattern of major congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract among the newborns in one of the English Caribbean countries. Materials and Methods: This study includes all newborns with major congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract in Barbados from 1993 to 2012. The birth register and the neonatal admission register at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where over 90% of all deliveries in this country take place, were the main source of data. Results: The overall prevalence of major congenital malformations of the digestive system in newborns was 7.28 per 10,000 live births. There were 15 (32.6%) cases of congenital absence, atresia, and stenosis of the small intestine giving a prevalence rate of 2.37/10,000 live births and 13 cases (28.3%) of esophageal atresia giving a prevalence rate of 2.06/10,000 live births. The overall prevalence of major congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract increased from 4.46/10,000 live births during 1993 - 1997 to 10.50/10,000 live births during 2008 - 2012. The prevalence of the absence, atresia or stenosis of the small intestine increased from 0.64/10,000 live births during 1993 - 1997 to 5.25/10,000 live births during 2008 - 2012. Overall 1.1% of all neonatal deaths were attributed to major malformations of the digestive system. Conclusions: Congenital absence, atresia, and stenosis of the small intestine were the most common malformations, with increasing prevalence over the study period. Tracheoesophageal fistula was the second most prevalent malformation and it had a high case fatality rate.