The Study of Newborns with Congenital Gastrointestinal Tract Obstruction

• Main Authors: Babaei Homa, Ahmadipour S. H., Mohamadimoghadam J., Mohsenzadeh A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University 2014-07-01
• Series: Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University
• Subjects: Gastrointestinal Tract Obstruction; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Newborn.
• Online Access: http://www.jkimsu.com/jkimsu-vol3no2/JKIMSU,%20Vol.%203,%20No.%202,%20July-Dec%202014%20Page%20101-106.pdf
• ISSN: 2231-4261; 2231-4261

Introduction: Gastrointestinal Tract Obstruction (GITO) is one of the most common causes of surgical emergencies in newborns. Management of these patients depends on the site of obstruction, associated anomalies, the time of diagnosis and the surgery. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical manifestations, associated anomalies and the outcome of these patients with GITO admitted to Imam Reza and Razi Hospitals of Kermanshah. Material and Methods: This is an observational study, which is conducted to investigate all the newborns, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Imam Reza & Razi Hospital of Kermanshah during ten years from 2002 to 2012 with diagnosis of GITO. The history of the newborn, operation records and case records of the patients in addition to clinical and paraclinical conditions and their pathological results were studied. Results: During the study period, 235 cases of GITO were investigated. Among them, 63 were admitted with imperforate anus, 62 with Hirschsprung's disease, 52 with esophageal atresia, 9 with ileal atresia, 17 with jejunal atresia, and 16 with duodenal obstruction and 6 with colonic atresia. The most common symptoms at the time of admission were abdominal distension in 108, absence of meconial defecation in 85, and bile vomiting in 42 cases. 189 (80.4%) of newborns were operated. The overall mortality rate of newborns under study was 31.2%. The highest rate of mortality was observed in newborns with esophageal atresia 61.5%. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that approximately 5% of the cases admitted to NICU suffered from congenital GITO. Considering the high number of cases and the increased probability of death in these patients, close attention, better management and treatment of these patients seems crucial.