Short gut syndrome: the Aga khan University Hospital experience

Despite recent advances in post operative care, problems associated with a short gut remain difficult to manage in neonates and infants. Five neonates with short gut syndrome secondary to various congenital intestinal anomalies were managed at the Aga Khan University Hospital between July 1986 and November 1988. The total length of the small bowel ranged from 55 cms to 130 cms and one patient had concomitant total colonic aganglionosis. The period of hospitalization ranged from 36 days to 6 months. Post operative management included the judicious use of Immodium, Cholestyramine and formulas containing medium chain triglycerides. Total parenteral nutrition was employed in one patient. Neonates, with retained ileum and ileocecal valve had smoother post operative courses and shorter hospitalization. All patients are showing satisfactory weight gain and development following discharge

Inguinal hernia in the paediatric age group the pakistani and japanese experience

During 1986 - 1987, a hospital based study of 258 infants and children with inguinal hernia was done at Karachi Pakistan and Kobe Japan. Ages of patients ranged from 0 -12 years. There were 158 Pakistani children composed of different ethnic groups and 100 Japanese children of single ethnic group. The purpose was to compare the similarities and differences of this common surgical problem in the two Asian Countries. The survey was carried out at two paediatric surgical units of Karachi [National Institute of Child Health and Civil Hospital, Karachi] and at Kobe Children Hospital Japan. The results concluded from the data show higher female to male ratio and higher percentage of bilaterality of the inguinal hernia in Japanese children