[Surgical treatment of neonates with very low (VLBW) or extremely low (ELBW) birth weight].

UNLABELLED: Progress in perinatology and neonatal intensive care led to surgical treatment of premature infants born with low (<1500 g) and extremely low (<1000 g) birth weight. AIM: Evaluation of surgical treatment in the group of neonates with very low birth weight (<1500 g) and extremely low birth weight (<1000 g). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the years 2000-2009 in the Department of Paediatric Surgery in the Institute of Mother and Child, 617 neonates underwent surgical treatment, 101 of them (16%) were born with very low or extremely low birth weight. In the analyzed group the birth weight ranged from 450 g to 1500 g (mean 952 g), gestational age ranged from 23 weeks to 32 weeks (mean 27 weeks). Fifty four patients (53%) were operated with the weight <1000 g. Indications for surgery were of two categories: pathologies related to prematurity and congenital defects. The extend of surgical intervention is presented. Additional pathologies influencing prognosis such as respiratory distress syndrome, haemodynamic ductus arteriosus, intraventricular haemorrhagia, multiple congenital defects and genetic disorders were also taken into consideration. Mortality in the entire group of patients was evaluated in relation to the birth weight, gestational age, reasons for surgical treatment and additional risk factors. RESULTS: Pathologies related to prematurity were indications for surgical treatment in 70 patients: perforation of the bowel in the course of necrotizing enterocolitis - NEC (28 patients), spontaneous intestinal perforation - SIP (32), gastric perforation - GP (4), meconium obstruction - MO (3) posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus - PH (3). In the remaining 31 neonates the following congenital defects were operated: inguinal hernia (10 patients), oesophageal atresia (8), anal atresia (2), torsion of the bowel (2), bowel atresia (3), hernia of the umbilical cord (3), ruptured omphalocele (1), myelomeningocele (2). In the entire group of 101 premature infants, 99 patients (98%) had respiratory distress syndrome, 56 (56%) required the closure of ductus arteriosus , in 55 patients (55%) intraventricular haemorrhage from II to IV degree was confirmed. In total thirty patients died. Twenty one of them were ELBW neonates. None of the patients died during the operation or within the first postoperative day. Mortality rate in the group with the weight <1000 g was 38%, in the group with the weight 1000 g-1500 g it was 19%. Highest mortality was observed in the patients with oesophageal atresia (62%) In this group the biggest number of additional anomalies or other genetic disorders was found. Twenty infants died (31%) in the group of 64 neonates with perforations. Mortality rate in the groups with the weight <1000 g and 1000 g-1500 g it was 34% and 26% respectively. Our results confirmed the significant difference between mortality in NEC - 65% and in SIP - 19.5% . The remaining 5 deaths were related both to extreme multiorgan prematurity and severe congenital defects. CONCLUSION: The most frequent indications for surgery in premature neonates (VLBW and ELBW) are acquired pathologies which are related to premature multiorgan insufficiency: perforations in the course of ischaemic or inflamatory changes in the bowel (NEC, SIP), intestinal obstruction related to functional insufficiency of alimentary tract (MO) and posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Congenital anomalies constitute 30% of indications for surgical treatment in this group of patients. Neonates born with low or extremely low birth weight are in the group of patients with the highest intraoperative risk. There is herefore a need to create well equipped, interdisciplinary centres employing paediatric surgeons, anaesthesiologists and neonatologists experienced in treatment of extremely premature neonates.

[Congenital duodenal obstruction - part II]. / Wrodzona niedroznosc dwunastnicy -- czesc II.

UNLABELLED: THE AIM of the second part of the study was an evaluation of the treatment in newborns with congenital duodenal obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the years 1992-2002 in the Department of Paediatric Surgery at the institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw, 601 newborns with congenital anomalies requiring early surgical intervention were treated. Congenital duodenal obstruction was diagnosed in 35 neonates with birth weight from 800 g to 3450 g. Thirty three patients were operated. Ten of them had associated anomalies of the cardiovascular system, gastro-intestinal and urinary tracts. Additionally, in three of them genetic disorders were suspected. Treatment of all 35 newborns was analysed in order to identify factors influencing prognosis in babies with congenital duodenal obstruction. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients survived (72%), ten patients died (28%). There were not any surgical complications. Two premature infants had died before operative repair, eight neonates after it (8-32 day). Six of them were premature babies with respiratory problems and in three of them genetic disorders were confirmed: Down's syndrome, Cornelia di Lange syndrome and aberration of the fourth and seventh pair of chromosomes. Additionally in six of them serious intrauterine infection was diagnosed. Mortality rate considerably decreased in the last five years, seven deaths occurred between 1992 and 1997 and only one after this time. CONCLUSION: Two groups of risk factors had influence for prognosis in neonates with congenital duodenal obstruction and they were not connected with operative procedures. Associated genetic disorder were the first group of serious risk factors having influence on prognosis, independently of surgical disease. On the other hand prematurity with severe respiratory problems and coexisting intrauterine infection were the most important prognostic factors in survival. Progress in prenatal diagnosis and neonatal intensive care had fundamental influence for improvement of results in the last 5 years.

[Congenital duodenal obstruction -- Part I]. / Wrodzona niedroznosc dwunastnicy -- czesc I.

Congenital duodenal obstruction is a cause of 40% of congenital intestinal obstructions in newborns. In the first part of this study authors describe the etiology, types of this anomaly, clinical symptoms, diagnostic investigation, surgical treatment and problems in postoperative management in the newborns suffering from congenital duodenal obstruction.

[Advances in the treatment of newborns with congenital malformations]. / Postepy w leczeniu noworodków z wadami wrodzonymi wymagajacymi operacji bezposrednio po urodzeniu.

Authors analyzed the type and the number of treated congenital malformations in 544 newborns operated between 1992-2001 in the Department of Paediatric Surgery in the Institute of Mother and Child. The patients were divided in the following groups: digestive tract defects, abdominal wall and diaphragm defects, neural tube defects, urinary track defects, craniofacial and brain defects and others anomalies occurring rarely. Most of the operations were preformed in the first 48 hours of life. Since 1995 special newborn transport, early cardiac surgery and neonatal intensive care have been introduced. Total mortality of operated newborns and death in particular groups were analyzed. The implemented elements caused a decrease in mortality from 36 to 13 percent. In the authors' opinion improvement in treatment results is due to earlier diagnosis and better understanding of pathophysiology of the defects, introduction of noninvasive pre- and postnatal diagnostics and establishment of centres specialized in neonatal surgery and intensive care.

[Defects of the low urinary tract as a cause of recurrent urinary tract infection in girls]. / Wady dolnych dróg moczowych jako przyczyna nawracajacych zakazen ukladu moczowego u dziewczat.

462 girls aged 1 month--15 years with recurrent urinary tract infection were diagnosed in the Outpatient Clinic of Mother and Child Institute during 1985-1992 and 1999-2000 years period. The most common cause of recurrent urinary tract infection was an isolated construction of external urethral ostium--59.9% (187/312) then vesico-ureteral reflux coexisting with external urethral ostium--41.1% (125/312), next isolate vesico-ureteral reflux--22.5% (104/462). Typical radiological diagnostic was performed in all cases and calibration of urethrae was 416 girls. From 75% (312/416) cases with urethral construction only 54.7% (253/462) had typical cystographic picture of that defect. Results of our studies confirmed the importance of exact diagnosis of "lower part of urinary tract" and necessity of appropriate treatment.