Growth Failure as the Presenting Symptom of Crohn's Disease

Short stature is a common symptom of Crohn's disease in children, but it is rarely the chief complaint. We have encountered 5 pati?nts whose major complaint was stunted growth and poor weight gain. Only one patient had moderately severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss, while the remaining patients exhibited mild abdominal symptoms elicited only by probing questions. Bone age was retarded in all. Sedimentation rate was elevated in 3 patients, and 4 had anemia. Small bowel series revealed typical findings of Crohn's disease in all. Two patients had surgical treatment, and 3 received nutritional supplement and steroid therapy. It is concluded that in the patient with stunted growth, careful history taking is essential. A work-up to rule out inflammatory bowel disease is indicated, especially if an elevated sedimentation rate and/or anemia are present, even in the absence of clear-cut abdominal compliants.     

Congenital mesenteric hernia causing intestinal obstruction in children

A mesenteric hernia is one type of intraperitoneal hernia. There is no hernia sac in this situation but only a mesenteric defect, which is present at birth. Strangulated mesenteric hernia is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction especially in the pediatric population. Between January 1996 and January 2006, four patients with intestinal obstruction were determined to have congenital mesenteric hernia at Chang Gung Children’s Hospital. Patients consisted of three boys and one girl, ranging in age from 2 years 5 months to 5 years 4 months. All patients presented with symptoms and signs indicative of intestinal obstruction. On physical examination, all patients appeared to be severely ill. A shock-like state was associated with necrosis of the strangulated bowel in two patients. A palpable abdominal mass was present in one patient with volvulus of small bowel. The plain abdominal radiography and the ultrasound scan also showed dilatation of the small bowel and excluded intussusception. All the patients underwent laparotomy after initial resuscitation. During laparotomy, three patients had incarceration of small bowel through the small mesenteric defect, and another one had volvulus with gangrenous bowel entrapped within a large mesenteric defect. The defects ranged in size are from 2 to 7 centimeters in diameter. Simple reduction of the incarcerated bowel with repair of the defect was performed in two patients, resection of gangrenous bowel and primary anastomosis was required in one patient, and resection with end ileostomy was needed in another one patient. There was no postoperative mortality in our patients. Conclusion: A mesenteric hernia is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, especially in children. Open exploration is the only way to establish a clear anatomic diagnosis.     

Intestinal volvulus: aetiology, morbidity, and mortality in Nigerian children

 In developed countries, intestinal volvulus in children is most frequently due to malrotation. To review the experience in Nigeria, a retrospective analysis of 28 patients managed over 25 years at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria, was undertaken. There were 22 boys and 6 girls with an age range of 4 days to 14 years (median 4 years). There were equal numbers over and less than 5 years of age. Vomiting (89%) and abdominal distension (79%) were the most prominent features. Thirteen children (46%) had fever, associated with bowel gangrene in 5, while 8 (29%) presented with severe dehydration and shock. A plain abdominal radiograph was the only investigation performed, but the features were not specific for volvulus. In 11 children (39%) the volvulus was idiopathic, in 9 (32%) due to adhesions or bands, in 5 (18%) to malrotation, and in 1 each a Meckel's diverticulum, internal herniation, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Twenty-three patients had a small-bowel, 4 sigmoid, and 1 caecal volvulus. The bowel resection rate for gangrene was 46% (small bowel 9, sigmoid 3, caecum 1). All patients with malrotation had Ladd's procedure performed. Wound infections occurred in 10 patients (36%), complete wound dehiscence in 1, and recurrence in 1 (idiopathic terminal ileal volvulus). The mortality was 21%, mostly from overwhelming infection (2 neonates, 11-year-old, 3 ≥ 5 years). Intestinal volvulus in our environment differs in aetiology from other reports. The resection rates are similar, however. This condition carries high morbidity and mortality. Accepted: 3 June 1999     

Fluoroscopic and CT enteroclysis in children: initial experience,technical feasibility,and utility

Background Partial small-bowel obstruction can be difficult to diagnose on clinical examination. These obstructions might not be detected on routine abdominal/pelvic CT. Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and techniques of fluoroscopic enteroclysis (FE) and CT enteroclysis (CTE), and to review their indications and findings in children. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed all enteroclysis studies in children younger than 18 years performed between January 2002 and March 2007. We correlated the results with other abdominal imaging and surgical and pathological findings. Results The review revealed 112 FE and 74 CTE studies performed in 175 children (mean age 14 years, range 3–18 years). FE and CTE studies were performed most commonly for evaluation of known Crohn disease (FE 38%, CTE 29%) and abdominal pain (FE 26%, CTE 26%). One FE study was terminated because of patient anxiety, and one CTE study was terminated because of patient discomfort. No complications of FE or CTE were reported. The findings were normal in 54% of the FE studies and 46% of the CTE studies. The most common small bowel diagnoses were Crohn disease (FE 34%, CTE 28%) and partial small bowel obstruction (FE 3%, CTE 10%). Two FE studies (2%) and 14 CTE studies (19%) showed abnormalities outside the small bowel. In 54 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 11 FE studies and 25 CTE studies showed additional bowel abnormalities. Overall, 14 and 21 patients had surgery as a result of the findings of FE and CTE, respectively. Conclusion FE and CTE are safe, feasible, and accurate in depicting small-bowel pathology in children. These techniques can be particularly useful in children with Crohn disease involving the small bowel.     

Small bowel intussusception in childhood

BACKGROUND: Intussusception is the most common cause of abdominal emergency in early childhood. The majority of cases are ileocolic type of intussusception. Only few reports concerning small bowel intussusception have been reported. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and imaging findings of all patients with the diagnosis of intussusception (comparing small bowel intussusception with ileocolic type of intussusception), which were documented by ultrasound in the period April 1997 to January 2001. The routine ultrasound scans included an evaluation of the entire abdomen using sector and linear transducers of high frequency (5 - 7.5 MHz) and power doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients with small bowel intussusception (9 female, 13 male) and 29 patients diagnosed to suffer from ileocolic intussusception (10 female, 19 male) were identified and treated. Children with small bowel intussusception were significant older in comparison to children with ileocolic type of intussusception (median age 50 vs. 11 months). In our series the presenting symptoms of patients with small bowel intussusception consisted of abdominal pain (86 %) and vomiting (36 %). The initial clinical symptoms of patients with ileocolic intussusception were abdominal pain (100 %), vomiting (72 %) and/or rectal fresh blood (35 %). Small bowel intussusception was an incidental finding in 3 asymptomatic patients (14 %). Hydrostatic reduction was attempted in 14 % of children with small bowel intussusception (vs. 93 % of children with ileocolic intussusception), one patient needed operative treatment (vs. 21 %). Outcome in all patients was favorable. CONCLUSION: The high percentage of patients with small bowel intussusception observed may relate to increased use of abdominal ultrasound in children presenting with abdominal pain and improvements in resolution and quality of the images. Small bowel intussusceptions in our series were in the majority of cases short-segmented, self-limited and without a lead point. In comparison to patients with ileocolic intussusception the presenting symptoms of small bowel intussusception are less acute.     

Differentiation of cows' milk intolerance and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

The aim of this study was to compare a non-invasive test of small bowel permeability with a more invasive approach involving endoscopy, mucosal biopsy, and oesophageal pH monitoring for rapidly differentiating gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and cows'' milk intolerance in 25 infants with persistent vomiting. Each subject underwent a cellobiose/mannitol permeability study, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with oesophageal and small bowel biopsies, and a 24 hour pH study. Reflux disease and/or cows'' milk intolerance was responsible for vomiting in 24 (96%) of the subjects. Sixteen (64%) of the infants had GOR alone, four (16%) had GOR and cows'' milk intolerance, and four (16%) had cows'' milk intolerance alone. Morphometric analysis of small bowel biopsies was abnormal in 19% of the patients with GOR alone and in 67% with cows'' milk intolerance with or without GOR. The permeability test was abnormal in only 6% of the patients with GOR but in 100% with GOR and cows'' milk intolerance and in 100% with cows'' milk intolerance alone. The non-invasive permeability study aimed at rapid determination of cows'' milk intolerance should pre-empt a more invasive approach in the evaluation of infants with persistent vomiting.     

Plasma oxytocin in children with recurrent abdominal pain

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this work was to study plasma oxytocin concentration of children with psychosomatic recurrent abdominal pain and children with organic abdominal disease producing pain. Another objective was to study plasma oxytocin in children with psychosomatic recurrent pain over time and its relationship to other associated symptoms such as somatic pains and appetite. DESIGN: The concentration of oxytocin in plasma (fasting morning sample) was measured by radioimmunoassay in 48 children with abdominal pain, 32 of whom had psychosomatic recurrent abdominal pain according to previously defined criteria. Oxytocin levels were assessed in a separate group of 15 children with inflammatory bowel disease with abdominal pain and in a control group of 79 healthy school children. RESULTS: Plasma oxytocin concentration was significantly lower in children with recurrent abdominal pain of psychosomatic origin (P < 0.0001) and in the group of children with inflammatory bowel disease (P < 0.001) compared to controls. There was no difference between oxytocin levels of children with psychosomatic abdominal pain and those with inflammatory bowel disease. When repeated after one year, children with psychosomatic abdominal pain had an increase in mean plasma oxytocin level (P < 0.05). No relationship was found between specific symptoms and plasma oxytocin. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma oxytocin level is low in patients with abdominal pain of psychosomatic origin and inflammatory bowel disease. Measurement of plasma oxytocin may be of some help in the differential diagnosis of recurrent abdominal pain, but does not differentiate between psychosomatic abdominal pain and pain associated with inflammatory bowel disease.     

Prenatal Closure of Abdominal Defect in Gastroschisis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

With the routine use of fetal imaging studies during prenatal care, increased numbers of unusual intrauterine events are now detected. Prenatal closure of the abdominal defect in gastroschisis is an example. We report a 34 5/7–week stillborn who had prenatal closure of a ventral abdominal wall defect, which had been seen earlier on fetal ultrasound examination. Two ultrasound examinations performed at 15 1/7 weeks and 19 1/7 weeks showed a mass of exteriorized bowel that herniated through the abdominal defect, just to the right of the umbilical cord. At 30 1/7 weeks, no exteriorized bowel was seen, but thickened and dilated intraabdominal bowel was identified. No abdominal defect or exteriorized bowel was found at autopsy. There was a severely dilated proximal jejunum with the absence of the rest of the small intestine and the right side of the colon. The remaining left side of the colon was small and blind proximally. Six similar isolated examples have been reported since 1991. Prenatal closure of an abdominal defect was associated with long-segment atresia of the midintestine in each case. We believe that the spontaneous closure of this abdominal defect was associated with atresia and resorption of exteriorized bowel. It is likely some of the cases of long-segment atresia may in fact be associated with closed gastroschisis. Received December 18, 2000; accepted April 25, 2001.     

Role of wireless capsule endoscopy in reclassifying inflammatory bowel disease in children

ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of wireless capsule endoscopy in identifying small bowel lesions in pediatric patients with newly diagnosed colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) type unclassified (IBDU), and to assess whether capsule endoscopy findings result in altered patient management.MethodsTen pediatric patients recently diagnosed with IBDU through standard investigations were recruited from the pediatric gastroenterology clinic at McMaster Children's Hospital to undergo capsule endoscopy using the Pillcam SB^TM (Given Imaging) capsule. Findings consistent with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease required the identification of at least three ulcerations.ResultsThree out of ten patients had newly identified findings on capsule endoscopy that met criteria for Crohn's disease. Three more patients had findings suspicious for Crohn's disease, but failed to meet the diagnostic criteria. Three additional patients had findings most consistent with ulcerative colitis, and one had possible gastritis with a normal intestine. Findings from capsule endoscopy allowed for changes in the medical management of three patients. In all ten cases, capsule endoscopy allowed for a better characterization of the type and extent of disease. No adverse outcomes occurred in the present cohort.ConclusionThis prospective study reveals that wireless capsule endoscopy is feasible, valuable, and non-invasive, offering the ability to potentially better characterize newly diagnosed pediatric IBDU cases by identifying lesions in the small bowel and reclassifying these as Crohn's disease.     

Imaging of total colonic Hirschsprung disease

Background  Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a functional obstruction of the bowel caused by the absence of intrinsic enteric ganglion cells. The diagnosis of total colonic HD (TCHD) based on contrast enemas is difficult in newborns because radiological findings vary. Objective  To evaluate the radiographic and contrast enema findings in patients with pathologically proven TCHD. Materials and methods  From 1966 to 2007, 17 records from a total of 31 patients with TCHD were retrospectively evaluated for diameter and shape of the colon, diameter of the small bowel, bowel wall contour, ileal reflux, abdominal calcifications, pneumoperitoneum, filling defects, transitional zones and rectosigmoid index. Results  Three colonic patterns of TCHD were found: microcolon, question-mark-shape colon and normal caliber colon. Additional findings included spasmodic colon, ileal reflux, delayed evacuation and abdominal calcifications. Colonic transitional zones were found in eight patients with TCHD. Conclusion  The diagnosis of TCHD is difficult to establish by contrast enema studies. The length of the aganglionic small bowel and the age of the patient can influence the radiological findings in TCHD. The transitional zone and the rectosigmoid index can be false-positive in TCHD. The colon can appear normal. Consider TCHD if the contrast enema study is normal but the patient remains symptomatic and other causes of distal bowel obstruction have been excluded.     

Small bowel perforation in the premature neonate: congenital or acquired?

To determine the potential aetiological factors of small bowel perforation in the premature neonate, we performed a retrospective chart review of those neonates with spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) of the small bowel seen in our tertiary paediatric hospital between January 1980 and December 2000. Data were collected on gestational feto-maternal health, medical interventions prior to perforation and the subsequent operative and laboratory findings. There were 23 patients with SIP of the small bowel over the 21-year review; 65% were male. There were 7 twin pregnancies but no cases linked to maternal drug abuse. The median gestational age was 27 weeks, the median birth weight 973 g, 19 neonates required ventilation, 15 steroids and 13 indomethacin. The median age at diagnosis was 7 days, heralded by rapid development of abdominal distension in 22 patients. Surgical intervention in addition to insertion of a peritoneal drain was required in 19 patients. Positive microbiological cultures of blood or peritoneal fluid at operation were documented in 8 patients; 5 grew Staphylococcus epidermidis and 4 Candida species. Perforations were located in the ileum in 20 and the jejunum in 1. Deficiency of the muscularis propria was found in 6 patients. Of the 6 deaths, 2 neonates had significant co-morbidity in addition to extreme prematurity. Small bowel SIP occurs in the premature neonate after the first week of life and usually presents with abdominal distension. Putative risk factors identified included twin gestation, neonatal ventilation, use of steroids and indomethacin, infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida species and deficiency of enteric smooth muscle.     

Is capsule endoscopy useful in children with chronic abdominal pain?

Chronic abdominal pain is highly prevalent in school-aged children and is one of the most frequent disorders in our environment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of capsule endoscopy (CE) in patients with chronic abdominal pain. Sixteen patients (nine boys and seven girls), aged between 5 and 16 years old, with chronic abdominal pain for at least 12 months were studied. In all patients the results of hemograms, biochemical investigations, urine sediment test, Helicobacter pylori breath test and celiac serology were normal. In all children, gastroscopy, small bowel follow-through, abdominal ultrasound and colonoscopy were normal. All patients received CE by mouth. In 43.75 % of the patients studied (7/16), the capsule showed evidence of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, mainly located in the ileum. In one girl, oxyuriasis was observed in the cecum and in another girl aphthous lesions were observed in the ileum. These lesions suggested small bowel Crohn's disease. CE mainly showed images compatible with nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, with unknown clinical significance. Consequently, we conclude that CE does not provide useful information in patients with abdominal pain without other symptoms.     

Long-term complications following intestinal malrotation and the Ladd’s procedure: a 15 year review

Background: It is accepted that children with volvulus require urgent surgery. However the long term sequelae and late complications of its surgical therapy are less well understood. We hypothesised that the surgical corrected intestinal malrotation have significant long term impact on the patients quality of life. Methods: Forty-six children with intestinal malrotation were operated on at a tertiary referral centre over a fifteen year period. Their charts were retrospectively reviewed and the patients were contacted. Results: The study revealed two distinct groups, those without complications 25 (54%) and those without 21 (46%). In the acute post operative period four (9%) patients had on going feeding difficulties and one (2%) developed chronic abdominal pain. However 12 (26%) required readmission within the first six months after the initial operation. Eleven (24%) patients were readmitted with acute bowel obstruction. Six (13%) patients required multiple admissions due to small bowel obstruction and six (13%) patients underwent further surgery for adhesion related obstruction. There were four (9%) deaths in the study group, three due to other medical conditions and one following small bowel obstruction. There was zero mortality immediately after the primary operation. There was no significant difference in the initial presentation, age and operative findings in those requiring further surgery and those who did not. Conclusions: We demonstrated that there is a significant long-term morbidity associated with intestinal malrotation even after corrective surgery. Detailed education about the potential for small bowel obstruction must be given to the parents of these children.     

Cellobiose: mannitol differential permeability in small bowel disease.

Cellobiose and mannitol absorption were studied in patients with suspected abnormal function of the small bowel mucosa. The urinary cellobiose:mannitol ratio was increased in subtotal villous atrophy, iron deficiency anaemia, and small intestinal Crohn''s disease. The test seems a sensitive indicator of the integrity of small bowel mucosa.     

Protective fibrin-sealed plication of the small bowel in recurrent laparotomy

Purpose Adhesions after recurrent abdominal operations remain extremely common and are sources of severe morbidity. Fibrin-glued plication of the small gut in a meander-like formation is supposed to guarantee a decreased risk of intestinal obstruction postoperatively. This retrospective study analyses the clinical outcome after recurrent laparotomy in children treated with bowel plication by fibrin sealant.Methods The surgical technique of performing the fibrin-glued plication is rather simple and quick: after taking off all adhesions two to four loops of the small gut are positioned so that they lie side by side. Beginning proximal fibrin [Tissucol fibrin sealant (Baxter)] is applied between the loops; approximately 20–30 s are needed to keep the loops in position until the fibrin dries. This manoeuvre is continued until all of the small gut is fixed in one block. The gut is brought back into the abdominal cavity without loosening the loops. This fixed formation by sero-serosal adhesions or mesenterial plications is supposed to guarantee postoperative free passage. The charts of 60 children who had undergone a fibrin plication of the small bowel between 1991 and 1999 were evaluated. Additionally, questionnaires were sent to all patients, and they were invited for an examination.Results Sixty patients (38 boys and 22 girls) received a fibrin sealant plication because of recurrent laparotomies with heavily serosal defects or recurrent ileus because of adhesions. The youngest baby was 10 days. Since 23 patients were premature the oldest patient was 11 years old. There were no intraoperative complications attributed to the method. In the postoperative period 7/60 (12%) patients had a recurrent ileus or subileus, leading in three (5%) patients to an early relaparotomy.Conclusion The fibrin-glued plication of the small bowel decreases the risk of recurrent ileus or subileus considering the high figures in the literature concerning this issue. The time-saving method is very simple and easily feasible. No side effects after the treatment with fibrin glue were observed.     

Sigmoid colon volvulus in children: review of 19 cases

The records of 19 patients with sigmoid colon volvulus (SCV) who were treated surgically in a 36.5-year-period were reviewed. Seven of them (37 %) had ileosigmoidal knotting (ISK). The age range was between 10 weeks and 17 years (mean 10 years), and 17 patients (90%) were male. In two cases (11%) there was previous SCV history. The mean symptom duration was 57 h (range 24–96), and three patients (16%) were in shock. The main symptoms were abdominal pain (90%), distention (79%), vomiting (74%), and obstipation (58%), and the main signs were abdominal tenderness (90%), distention (79%), absence of stool in the rectum and hypo- or akinetic bowel sounds (58%), muscular rigidity (53%), hyperkinetic bowel sounds (32%), and melanotic stool in the rectum (21%). The torsion was found in a clockwise direction in 47%, and the torsion degree was 360 in 42%. In four patients (21%) there was no gangrene (one with ISK), whereas in 15 (79%) sigmoid colon was gangrenous (six with ISK, in whom small bowel was also gangrenous). In nongangrenous cases, detorsion (11%) or sigmoidopexy (11%) was performed. In gangrenous cases, gangrenous sigmoid colon was resected, and Hartmanns procedure (74%) or primary anastomosis (5%) was performed. In those with associated gangrene of the small bowel, resection and enteroenteric anastomosis were done. Four patients (21%) died, with the most common cause of death being toxic shock. In 11 patients, including five with SCV and six with ISK, no recurrence was seen in a mean 18-year follow-up period (range 8–39). As a result, preoperative resuscitation, prompt surgery, and postoperative support are important in emergent SCV in children.     

Enterocolitis following endorectal pull-through procedure in children with Hirschsprung's disease

The enterocolitis following a pull-through in Hirschsprung's disease can be life-threatening and difficult to distinguish clinically from gastroenteritis and post-operative complications. We reviewed retrospectively the abdominal radiographs in our series to identify specific radiographic characteristics of this syndrome in this population. A total of 55 episodes of enterocolitis with an abdominal series at presentation were located in the files of 43 patients following pull-through surgery for Hirschsprung's disease. There were 15 abdominal series with other complications of Hirschsprung's disease and surgery (seven cases of small bowel obstruction, one of fistula, one of abscess, six of severe constipation) and 71 surveillance follow-up studies. Radiographs were evaluated for bowel dilatation, air-fluid levels, intestinal cut-off sign, spiculation, and pneumatosis. The intestinal cut-off sign with two or more air-fluid levels had sensitivity of 68% and specificity of 83%, with a positive predictive value of 0.71 and overall accuracy of 77%. Our review of enterocolitis following pull-through in children with Hirschsprung's disease concludes that the constellation of an intestinal cut-off sign and at least two air-fluid levels on the abdominal series strongly suggests the diagnosis.Portions of this paper were presented at the Society for Pediatric Radiology meeting in Seattle in May 1993     

Wandering spleen producing small-bowel obstruction in a neonate

An unusual case of neonatal bowel obstruction is presented. The patient had bilious vomiting and a tender left abdominal mass, which at operation proved to be an avulsed spleen adherent to the small bowel mesentery, with no signs of significant haemorrhage. Theories of events that led to this rare occurrence are discussed. Correspondence to: S. Chou     

Absence and retention of small bowel gas in infants with midgut volvulus: Mechanisms and significance

The radiographic pattern of high intestinal obstruction--gastric and duodenal distension with absence of small bowel gas (ASBG) or a completely gasless abdomen--may be present in infants with midgut volvulus. In most instances, ASBG is associated with viable small bowel. However, when associated with abdominal distension and tenderness ASBG usually reflects strangulated midgut volvulus and bowel necrosis. In some patients with midgut volvulus there is a radiographic pattern of low small bowel obstruction; this is generally associated with necrotic bowel. These seemingly opposite observations can be explained by reviewing the dynamics of gas absorption in normal bowel and in closed loop intestinal obstruction. Impaired blood supply can result in either gaslessness or gaseous distension under differing conditions. Key words: Infant, intestinal tract, intestinal gas, intestinal obstruction, intestinal volvulus, malrotation, gasless abdomen.