Clinical study and management of intestinal obstruction in infants

Abstract

Background: Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency in infants. There is a regional variation in the etiology of this condition. This study was conducted to determine the aetiology, clinical presentation of intestinal obstruction in infants, and outcome of surgical management.

Methods: This prospective descriptive study was conducted in department of surgery at a tertiary care teaching hospital at Solapur, Maharashtra, India from January 2011 to December 2013.  All the patients, irrespective of sex with diagnosis of intestinal obstruction undergoing surgical intervention were included in the study. Surgical findings were recorded and in the postoperative period patients were followed up for detection of complications and their treatment.

Results: 50 patients were treated for intestinal obstruction with male to female ratio of 1.9:1. Majority of them (76%) presented within 1 month after birth. Abdominal distension and vomiting were the prominent symptoms of presentation. Wound infection was the commonest postoperative complication.

Conclusions: Anorectal malformation was the most frequent cause of intestinal obstruction in our patients followed by intestinal atresia. Septicaemia was the commonest cause of death in post-operative period. Associated congenital anomalies increased the morbidity and mortality.