ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Intussusception is a common childhood abdominal surgical emergency worldwide resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality if not promptly treated. Ultrasound-guided pneumatic reduction has been proven to be the most reliable and successful non-operative management option with the least complication rate. AIMS: To evaluate our local experience with the ultrasound-confirmed pneumatic reduction of childhood intussusception and to determine factors that predict successful outcome. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A retrospective study of children less than 2 years old who presented to our facility with uncomplicated idiopathic intussusceptions between June, 2012 and June, 2017. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography. Pneumatic reduction with a locally assembled equipment was performed on selected and resuscitated patients; abdominal ultrasound scan was then performed to confirm successful reduction. The procedure was considered to have failed if unsuccessful after the third attempt. Laparotomy was performed on patients with failed procedure. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24 was used for data analysis. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher exact test (with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals where appropriate) and numeric variables compared using the student t-test. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. RESULTS: Twenty five out of 36 children with intussusception were selected for the procedure with M:F ratio 1.8:1 and a mean age of 7.08 (SD 4.18) months. Only 9 (36%) presented early (ie within 24 hours). While non-bilious vomiting was the commonest symptom, blood-stained finger on rectal examination was the commonest sign in the patients. The overall success rate was 60% (15 patients). Early presentation accounted for only 5 (33%) of successful procedures. The presence of an abdominal mass was associated with increased likelihood of success (OR 9.75,[95% CI [1.38-68.78], p≥0.022), while the presence of a rectal mass was associated with a reduced likelihood of success (OR 0.16 95%CI [0.026-0.917], p≥0.042 ). Age, sex, and duration of symptoms before presentation did not influence outcome. Early presentation was however significantly associated with success at first attempt, compared to late presentation, in those with successful outcomes. Recurrence was observed in one (6.7%) of the successful cases. The mean duration of hospital stay in those that had successful outcome, 3.4(SD1.0) days was significantly shorter than that for those who had laparotomy for failed reduction, 8.0(SD3.1) days (p<0.001). There was no bowel perforation and no mortality recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The successful pneumatic reduction rate was 60%. The major predictors of success in this study were the presence of abdominal mass and the absence of intussusception apex in the rectum. Early presentation was significantly associated with success at first attempt, compared to late presentation, in those with successful outcomes. There was no bowel perforation or mortality. Ultrasound-confirmed pneumatic reduction of intussusception is a simple, easy, safe and effective non-operative management of uncomplicated intussusception in well selected children in our environment.
ABSTRACT
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in young infants is easily misdiagnosed as bronchopneumonia yet survival of such patients lies in prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment. The report aimed to increase awareness among Paediatricians and Paediatric Surgeons of the need for high index of suspicion for this condition to allow for early diagnosis and management. A two-month old infant presented with a five-week history of cough of sudden onset and a week history of difficulty in breathing. He had been managed in several hospitals for bronchopneumonia. Examination findings showed features of respiratory distress, widespread coarse crepitations and bowel sounds in the lung fields. Chest radiograph showed `loops of bowel in the mediastinum. He had surgical reduction and repair of the hernia, made excellent recovery post-op and was discharged home. CDH is an uncommon anomaly but a high index of suspicion will allow early diagnosis and treatment with favourable outcome when picked early
Subject(s)
Bronchopneumonia , Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital , Infant , Respiratory Distress Syndrome, NewbornABSTRACT
Hirschsprung's disease in the adolescents and adults is not a common diagnosis in our environment. However this may be as a result of misdiagnosis or late presentation as is the case with other causes of recurrent constipation in older age groups. We present a case of a 19-year old male who presented with recurrent episodes of constipation from infancy with none requiring any intervention except for the index presentation that lasted for 3 weeks with associated progressive abdominal distension. Diagnosis was made with a barium enema and full thickness rectal biopsy. He had staged procedures with an initial divided colostomy thereafter followed by a definitive Souave endorectal pull-through with a good short-term outcome.
