Low Bowel Obstruction Research Articles

Colorectal Cancer-The "Parent" of Low Bowel Obstruction.

Introduction: Despite the improvement of early diagnosis methods for multiple pathological entities belonging to the digestive tract, bowel obstruction determined by multiple etiologies represents an important percentage of surgical emergencies. General data: Although sometimes obstructive episodes are possible in the early stages of colorectal cancer, the most commonly installed intestinal obstruction has the significance of an advanced evolutionary stage of neoplastic disease. Development of Obstructive Mechanism: The spontaneous evolution of colorectal cancer is always burdened by complications. The most common complication is low bowel obstruction, found in approximately 20% of the cases of colorectal cancer, and it can occur either relatively abruptly, or is preceded by initially discrete premonitory symptoms, non-specific (until advanced evolutionary stages) and generally neglected or incorrectly interpreted. Success in the complex treatment of a low neoplastic obstruction is conditioned by a complete diagnosis, adequate pre-operative preparation, a surgical act adapted to the case (in one, two or three successive stages), and dynamic postoperative care. The moment of surgery should be chosen with great care and is the result of the experience of the anesthetic-surgical team. The operative act must be adapted to the case and has as its main objective the resolution of intestinal obstruction and only in a secondary way the resolution of the generating disease. Conclusions: The therapeutic measures adopted (medical-surgical) must have a dynamic character in accordance with the particular situation of the patient. Except for certain or probably benign etiologies, the possibility of colorectal neoplasia should always be considered, in low obstructions, regardless of the patient's age.

Congenital Colonic Stenosis: A Rare Gastrointestinal Malformation in Children.

Aims:Congenital colonic stenosis (CCS) is an extremely rare cause of low-intestinal obstruction in neonates/child. We report our experience with seven cases of CCS presenting with low-intestinal obstruction and diagnosed intraoperatively and also propose an algorithm for its appropriate treatment for the adequate outcome.Materials and Methods:It was a retrospective study of seven patients of CCS including two neonates (5-days and 15-days old), four infants (age range – 2–11 months), and one 24-month-old child admitted from 2014 to 2019. Information regarding the age of presentation, clinical presentation, physical findings, radiological and laboratory findings, details of surgery, and outcome was retrieved and analyzed.Results:The male-to-female ratio was 5:2. Patients were initially diagnosed as cases of Hirschsprung's disease in five and ileal atresia in two. A final diagnosis of CCS was made during surgery and histopathological examination of resected stenotic segment. The segment involved was ascending colon in three, transverse colon in two, and sigmoid colon and junction of descending and sigmoid colon each in one patient. Resection of stenotic colonic segment and primary end-to-end anastomosis was performed in two, divided stoma after resection of the stenotic segment and secondary anastomosis in three, and proximal loop terminal ileostomy followed by resection of the stenotic colonic segment and ileocolic anastomosis after 10–12 weeks in two.Conclusions:CCS is a rare but possible cause of large-bowel obstruction, in neonatal, infant, and children particularly when associated with a history of chronic constipation since birth. It should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis while managing a case of neonatal and pediatric intestinal obstruction, particularly low-bowel obstruction along with a history of chronic constipation. Treatment should be individualized for each patient based on clinical status and associated anomalies to give the best results with less morbidity.

Хірургічне лікування атрезії тонкої кишки новонароджених за умов різного післяопераційного супроводу

Introduction. Small intestine atresia is one of the most common causes of low bowel obstruction in newborns. Mortality in this pathology ranges from 5 to 60%, depending on the country. Modern views about surgical correction are rather contradictory. Purpose. To analyze the surgical treatment of small intestine atresia in the surgical department of the City Children’s Hospital No. 1 ССH) (Chernivtsi, Ukraine) and the surgical department Saint Damien Pediatric Hospital NPH (SDH) (Port-o-Prence, Haiti). To determine the best methods of surgery. Materials and methods. The surgical treatment of 15 children under the conditions of SDH (Haiti) and 12 children under conditions of the city children’s clinical hospital (CCH, Chernivtsi) with atresia of the small intestine was analyzed. Determined the effectiveness of closed (oblique «end-to-end» anastomosis, taping with «end-to-end» anastomosis, Denis-Brown and Louw anastomoses), discharging (U- and T-shaped, taping with anostomosing and suspended proximal enterostoma), anastomoses and stomas (end, double, according to Mikulich). Mortality with limited parenteral nutrition was 40% (SDH), with the presence of parenteral nutrition – 33.33% (ССH, Chernivtsi). Results. According to the analyzed data, we believe that the use of the method of surgical treatment should correspond to the type of atresia, the distance of the blind proximal end from the Treitz ligament, the difference in the diameters of the adducting and abducting sections, the possibility of parenteral nutrition, and the threat of short bowel syndrome (SCS). Conclusions. Y-shaped discharging anastomosis «side-to-side» with the removal of the proximal area in the form of a stoma, can be the method of choice in case of significant difference between the intestinal diameters. It provides a wide area of the small bowel junction, chyme abduction until the fistula heals, and can be used for different types of small bowel atresia. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. Keywords: small intestine atresia, surgical treatment, children.

Review. Gastrointestinal Surgery in Neonates: Practice, Facts, and Trends

The author presents an overview of the current trends in acute neonatal gastrointestinal surgery. Necrotizing enterocolitis and focal intestinal perforation are disorders of different etiology, appearance, and prognosis. In neonates with focal perforation, a good prognosis can be expected. Primary anastomosis is a valid option for primary surgery. Meconium ileus is based on obstruction of the terminal ileum. Medical treatment is the primary therapeutic option, although surgery may be required. In contrast, meconium plug syndrome is based on stool plugging in the left colon, and surgery is not appropriate. Hirschsprung’s disease is confirmed on the basis of representative biopsy of the rectum just above the dentate line. There is a trend toward a single-step pull-through operation without protective stoma. Open hernia repair in small neonates can be performed via a mini-incision and without opening the external inguinal ring. Laparoscopic hernia repair has some advantages, especially in girls. In infants with pyloric stenosis, laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is a first line option for treatment. There is a general trend toward single-stage procedures and laparoscopic reconstructive surgery for gastrointestinal malformations. With the exception of tracheoesophageal fistula and low bowel obstruction, the vast majority of upper gastrointestinal malformations can be identified using prenatal ultrasound examination. One-stage repair with excellent results is even possible in neonates below 1000 g. Surgery of duodenal or small bowel atresia can be performed following the postnatal adaptation period. For some forms of anorectal malformation, the need for a protective stoma has been questioned in the last decade. Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty remains the standard procedure for the majority of cases. Midgut or segmental volvulus affects different groups of infants. If a neonate is suspected of having any type of volvulus, urgent surgery is required. Intestinal duplication carries a high risk for complications, and surgery should be performed on an elective basis.

Partial bowel obstruction in a 2-month-old child. A delayed diagnosis of anal abuse

We present the case of an anal sexual abuse involving a 2-month-old boy, who was admitted to the Pediatric Surgery Unit of the University of Padua for low bowel obstruction. The infant had been already hospitalized for 3 days in a peripheral hospital and treated with daily rectal wash-outs for a fecaloma. Only after a careful interpretation of the plain abdominal radiograph, along with the performance of a rectoscopy and a laparotomy, a vegetable foreign body (about 3 cm in diameter and 7 cm in length) was discovered in the sigma. The morphology and dimensions of the foreign body, as well as its location, left no doubt about the etiology of the partial bowel obstruction, proving that it was clearly related to an anal sexual abuse.

Indications and prognostic analysis of sphincter preservation operation for rectal cancer

To explore the indications of sphincter preservation operation (SPO) for rectal cancer, and factors influencing selective indications of SPO. From April 1994 to April 2004, clinical data of 708 cases with rectal cancer were analyzed retrospectively. The patients received either SPO (SPO group, n=481) or abdominoperineal resection (APR group, n=227). Clinical pathologic parameters and survival rate were compared between the two groups. There were 66 patients with tumor located in sigmoid-rectum borderline, 138 in upper rectum, 195 in middle rectum, 309 in lower rectum. Dixon operation was performed in 449 patients, Bacon operation in 12, and "J" Poch anastomosis in 20 and Hartman operation in 13. There was no differences in sex, ages, liver metastasis, size, depth of invasion and Dukes stages between APR and SPO groups, but there was significant difference in lower bowel obstruction, tumor location, differentiation degree, infiltrated circumference of intestine, lymph node metastasis and radical approaches between the two groups. Radical excision was performed in 660 rectal cancer cases with radical excision rate of 91.5% . SPO was performed in 481 cases with preservation rate of 66.7%, including 135 lower rectal cancer with preservation rate of 43.7%. The operative mortality was 0.4% (3/708), regional recurrence rate was 5.51% (39/708) after operation. The median survival time was (65.0+/- 6.9) months in SPO group and (42.2+/- 5.6) months in APR group (P< 0.01), the 5-year survival rate was 59.3% and 42.3% in SPO and APR group (P< 0.001). SPO should be considered as primary choice for rectal cancer patients, but it must be ensured that complete radical resection be performed. Indications for SPO in lower rectal cancer depend on tumor location,differentiation degree,and infiltrated circumference of intestine,lymph node metastasis.

Vomiting in infancy

Vomiting is a relatively common symptom in childhood. The majority of children do not require any imaging. Bilious vomiting suggests an obstruction beyond the level of the second part of the duodenum. This is a significant symptom in young babies as it may indicate malrotation and possible volvulus. Abdominal radiographs in young children cannot differentiate between small and large bowel obstruction. The presence of pneumoperotineum and peritonitis are contraindications to the radiological reduction of intussusception. Any contrast enema should include a lateral view of the rectum to assess possible low bowel obstruction, including Hirschprung's disease.

Infantile Hirschsprung's disease ? is a barium enema useful?

This study examined the usefulness of barium enema examination in the diagnosis and evaluation of extent of aganglionosis in the 1st year of life. Twenty-four cases of Hirschsprung's disease in children less than 1 year of age were diagnosed from 1981 to 1989; 17 infants had a barium enema performed. A correct diagnosis was made by barium enema in 13 of the 17 infants, with the level of transition being correctly identified in only 8. Operative assessment of the cone was accurate in 14 of 24 infants, indicating that operative biopsy is always required. Therefore, the barium enema had a 24% false-negative rate in the diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease and a 53% error rate in determining the level of transition. In the investigation of an infant with a low bowel obstruction, the initial procedure suggested is a rectal washout. If this results in relief of the obstruction, it should be followed by a rectal biopsy. A barium enema adds insignificant information.