[Total duodenal section. A reliable indicator of severe physical abuse]. / Sección duodenal total. Indicador confiable de maltrato fisico severo.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the hollow viscera due to battered child syndrome is an unusual clinical finding and it is even less likely when we encounter total duodenum section. The literature on child abuse does not include visceral lesions as part of the spectrum. The aim of this study was to analize if complete duodenal section is a reliable indicator of severe physical abuse. Data were statistically analyzed using chi-square tests, likelihood ratios and the Cochran-Mantel-Haentzel test. CLINICAL CASES: Four children were admitted with a battered child syndrome diagnosis. RESULTS: All participants were surgically treated and the finding was total section of the duodenum. The postoperative course was normal. Statistical tests were p<0.0001 and the likelihood ratio 18.7 CONCLUSION: Duodenal rupture is a statistically reliable indicator of a severe form of physical abuse in children.

Sección duodenal total: indicador confiable de maltrato fisico severo / Total duodenal section: a reliable indicator of severe physical abuse

Antecedentes: No es común que como consecuencia de abuso físico haya perforación de víscera hueca y mucho menos que la rotura sea de magnitud tal que seccione el duodeno en la totalidad de su circunferencia. De acuerdo con la literatura, se ha establecido que es poco probable que una lesión visceral sea causada por maltrato. El objetivo de este análisis es investigar si la sección duodenal total puede ser un indicador seguro de agresión física intencional. Las variables fueron sometidas a χ2, probabilidad de riesgo y prueba de homogeneidad de Cochran-Mantel-Haenzel. Casos clínicos: Fueron estudiados cuatro niños que sufrieron maltrato físico y cuya complicación más importante fue la sección duodenal completa. Resultados: Los niños fueron operados y la evolución fue satisfactoria; el análisis estadístico mostró p<0.0001 y probabilidad de riesgo de 18.7. Conclusiones: De acuerdo con los resultados estadísticos, la rotura duodenal en toda su circunferencia debe ser considerada un indicador de maltrato físico severo.

BACKGROUND: Rupture of the hollow viscera due to battered child syndrome is an unusual clinical finding and it is even less likely when we encounter total duodenum section. The literature on child abuse does not include visceral lesions as part of the spectrum. The aim of this study was to analize if complete duodenal section is a reliable indicator of severe physical abuse. Data were statistically analyzed using chi-square tests, likelihood ratios and the Cochran-Mantel-Haentzel test. CLINICAL CASES: Four children were admitted with a battered child syndrome diagnosis. RESULTS: All participants were surgically treated and the finding was total section of the duodenum. The postoperative course was normal. Statistical tests were p<0.0001 and the likelihood ratio 18.7 CONCLUSION: Duodenal rupture is a statistically reliable indicator of a severe form of physical abuse in children.

[Esophageal atresia: a second-level hospital experience]. / Atresia esofágica: experiencia de un hospital de segundo nivel de atención.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, surgical correction of esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula has become increasingly successful. However, there is still a group of high-risk patients with specific factors in whom the mortality remains appreciable. These associated factors include weight, gestational age, associated malformations and respiratory distress. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This report analyzes the mortality in 80 newborn infants with variants of esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula who were treated from 1999 to 2003. Data were collected restrospectively from hospital and office records. RESULTS: We observed 42 male patients, 69 patients were C variety, all had more than 12 h of postnatal life, 34 were preterm newborn, 41 were classified A or B according to Waterston, and 41 died. A logistic regression analysis and chi2 of the influence of each risk factor on mortality was performed. Relevant statistical significance was found in the studied variables. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidity and mortality of esophageal atresia was higher due to identified risk factors.