Hirschsprung's disease in the newborn: experience in Zaria, Nigeria.

In a 10-year retrospective review of 15 newborns aged < or = 42 days presenting with Hirschsprung's disease, there were 12 boys and three girls aged 4-42 days (median 18 days). Twelve babies presented with complete intestinal obstruction. In 12 babies, there was a history of delayed passage of meconium (after 2-6 days). One baby each developed caecal and sigmoid perforation. Barium enemas in three babies without complete intestinal obstruction suggested Hirschsprung's disease in two. Following resuscitation, the two infants who had perforated had caecostomy and sigmoid repair with right transverse colostomy, respectively. One infant had ileostomy for total colonic aganglionosis associated with ileal atresia. All the others had initial diversion colostomy. Rectal biopsies confirmed Hirschsprung's disease in all the babies. The ileum was injured during colostomy in one case, requiring repair. Postoperative anastomotic leakage occurred in the infant with ileal injury and colostomy necrosis occurred in another infant. Five babies (33%) died, three from overwhelming infection (caecal perforation, sigmoid perforation, ileal injury), one from hypokalaemia (ileostomy) and one from an unidentified cause. Few cases of Hirschsprung's disease present in the newborn period in our environment and, when they do, they usually present with complete intestinal obstruction with high morbidity and mortality.

Emergency neonatal surgery in a developing country.

With better understanding of neonatal physiology and improvements in diagnostic facilities and neonatal intensive care units (NICU), the outcome of neonatal surgery has improved in developed countries. In developing countries, however, neonatal surgery is problematic, particularly in the emergency setting, but there are few reports from these countries. A retrospective analysis of 154 neonates who had emergency surgery over a 10-year period at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria, was undertaken. Emergency surgery represented 40% of surgical procedures in neonates in the hospital. The majority of the patients (94.8%) were delivered at home or in rural health centers. The median weight was 2.7 kg (range 2.0-3.7 kg). In 89 cases (58%) the indications for surgery were intestinal obstruction, anorectal malformations in 60(67%) and in 33(21%) complicated exomphalos or gastroschisis. Nine patients (6%) required surgery for ruptured neural-tube defects. A colostomy was the commonest procedure (51, 33%), 27(53%) of which were performed using a local anesthetic without adverse effects. Thirty-three abdominal-wall defects were closed by various methods (fascial closure 23, skin closure 6, improvised silo 4). Overall, 37 (24%) procedures were performed using local anesthesia. Fifty-nine patients (38%) developed postoperative complications (infections 33, respiratory insufficiency 16, colostomy complications 8, anastomotic leak 2). The mortality was 30.5%, 66% due to overwhelming infection, 28% to respiratory insufficiency, and 4.3% to multiple anomalies. Other factors considered to have contributed to morbidity and mortality were late referral and presentation and a lack of NICUs. Thus, emergency neonatal surgery is attended by high morbidity and mortality in our environment at the present time. Early referral and presentation and provision of NICUs should improve the outcome.

Comparison of three operations for typhoid perforation.

BACKGROUND: Typhoid fever is a public health problem in the developing world and gut perforation remains the major complication with a high associated mortality rate. Even though most surgeons agree that elimination of peritoneal soilage and endotoxaemia by surgery offers the best hope of survival, the extent of surgery remains controversial. This prospective study compared the results of three operations for this condition. METHODS: A total of 64 patients with clinical suspicion of typhoid perforation were treated by one of three operations (simple closure, wedge excision and anastomosis or segmental resection and anastomosis) at this hospital. The management protocol was the same for the three groups. The risk of reperforation, mortality rate and duration of hospital stay were compared. RESULTS: The risk of reperforation and mortality rate were highest (two and 13 of 21 respectively) in patients who had wedge excision and lowest (zero and nine of 25 respectively) in those who had segmental resection. The risk of reperforation and mortality rate were zero and nine of 18 respectively in the simple closure group. CONCLUSION: Segmental resection seems to be the best treatment for typhoid perforation and is recommended for surgeons practising in a similar environment.

Blunt traumatic injury of the gallbladder in childhood.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate blunt traumatic injury of the gallbladder in childhood. DESIGN: A case report. SETTING: Hospital. SUBJECT: An eight year old boy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence, history, treatment. RESULT: The gallbladder was ruptured at the neck necessitating a cholecystectomy. The child has remained well at three months follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Blunt traumatic injury of the gallbladder, though rare, does occur usually as a consequence of direct abdominal injury especially in children during sporting activities and fights. Minor injuries can be repaired but cholecystectomy is necessary in more extensive injuries or injury to the cystic duct and neck. A comprehensive history taking including direct questioning regarding trauma and a high index of suspicion are important for early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Intussusception in children and adults in Zaria: a comparison.

OBJECTIVES: To compare and contrast the symptomatology and the anatomical type of the intussusception in children and adults in Zaria. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Hospital. SUBJECTS: 93 patients with intussusception. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of intussusception. RESULTS: Colicky abdominal pain featured often enough in both groups with most symptoms and signs decreasing in frequency from infancy to adulthood. The ratio of small bowel to large bowel disease in infants, older children and adults was 1;8:1, 0;6:1 and 1:1 respectively. Infantile intussusception involving the small bowel was more common, and in older children large bowel involvement was commoner, while 50pc of adult intussusceptions were paradoxically small bowel. Overall, small bowel intussusception was most common with the ileocolic variety predominating. CONCLUSIONS: The most common type of intussusception in our environment is the ileocolic variety.