Epidemiologic factors associated with neonatal bowel perforations in Uganda: experience from a single tertiary referral hospital

Elgendy M.M., Othman H.F., Heis F., Qattea I., Aly H.

Abo-Halawa N.A., Negm M.A., Fathy M.

Neonatal gastro-intestinal perforation [NGIP] is one of the major problems in pediatric surgical practice. Although the outcomes of neonatal surgery have improved markedly over the past decade the mortality rates of neonates with NGIP are still high. The aim of this study was to present the possible etiological factors, clinical findings, and operative procedures of NIP in our locality. A total of 34 neonates with NGIP were included in this study. The median age at presentation was (15.8 ± 7.0 SD) days. The median interval between presentation and surgical interference was (2.0 ± 1.1 SD).Necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC] was the commonest cause of neonatal gastro-intestinal perforation. The commonest site of perforation was the colon [11cases]. The overall mortality rate was 11 cases [32.4%]. The main cause of mortality was neonatal NEC [6 cases]. Eight cases [40 %] died out of 20 cases which the interval between the presentation and interference were more than one day. Neonatal gastro-intestinal perforations are still associated with high mortality rate in our institutions, and delayed diagnosis with increased interval between the presentation and surgical intervention are associated with increased mortality. In our locality, although NEC is the commonest cause of NGIP, the iatrogenic cause is relatively higher than reported.

Han S.M., Hong C.R., Knell J., Edwards E.M., Morrow K.A., Soll R.F., Modi B.P., Horbar J.D., Jaksic T.

We sought to describe changes in the incidence and mortality of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and associated surgical management strategies for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.Data were prospectively collected on VLBW infants (≤1500 g or < 29 weeks) born 2006 to 2017 and admitted to 820 U.S. centers. NEC was defined by the presence of at least one clinical and one radiographic finding. Trends analyses were performed to assess changes in incidence and mortality over time.Of 473,895 VLBW infants, 36,130 (7.6%) were diagnosed with NEC, of which 21,051 (58.3%) had medical NEC and 15,079 (41.7%) had surgical NEC. Medical NEC decreased from 5.3% to 3.0% (p < 0.0001). Surgical NEC decreased from 3.4% to 3.1% (p = 0.06). Medical NEC mortality decreased from 20.7% to 16.8% (p = 0.003), while surgical NEC mortality decreased from 36.6% to 31.6% (p < 0.0001). In the surgical cohort, the use of primary peritoneal drainage (PPD) versus initial laparotomy rose from 23.2% to 46.8%.The incidence and mortality of both medical and surgical NEC have decreased over time. Changes in surgical management during this time period included the increased utilization of primary peritoneal drainage.Prognosis study.Level II.

Ekenze S.O., Ajuzieogu O.V., Nwomeh B.C.

Disparity still exists in the outcome of neonatal surgery between high-income countries and low-income and middle-income countries. This study reviews publications on neonatal surgery in Africa over 20 years with a focus on challenges of management, trends in outcome, and potential interventions to improve outcome. We did a literature review by searching PubMed and African Index Medicus for original articles published in any language between January 1995 and September 2014. A data extraction sheet was used to collect information, including type of study, demographics, number of cases, outcome, challenges, and suggestions to improve outcome. A total of 51 studies from 11 countries met the inclusion criteria. The 16 studies in the first 10 years (1995–2004; group A) were compared with the 35 in the last 10 years (2005–2014; group B). Nigeria (n = 32; 62.7 %), South Africa (n = 7; 13.7 %), Tanzania (n = 2; 3.9 %), and Tunisia (n = 2; 3.9 %) were the predominant sources of the publications, which were retrospective in 38 (74.5 %) studies and prospective in 13 (25.5 %) studies. The mean sample size of the studies was 95.1 (range 5–640). Overall, 4849 neonates were studied, with median age of 6 days (range 1–30 days). Common neonatal conditions reported were intestinal atresia in 28 (54.9 %) studies, abdominal wall defects in 27 (52.9 %), anorectal malformations 25 in (49.0 %), and Hirschsprung’s disease, necrotising enterocolitis, and volvulus neonatorum in 23 (45.1 %) each. Mortality was lowest (<3 %) in spina bifida and facial cleft procedures, and highest (>50 %) in emergency neonatal surgeries involving bowel perforation, bowel resection, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, oesophageal atresia, and ruptured omphalocele or gastroschisis. Overall average mortality rate was higher in group A than group B (36.9 vs 29.1 %; p < 0.001), and varied between the groups for some conditions. The major documented challenges were delayed presentation and inadequate facilities in 39 (76.5 %) studies, dearth of trained support personnel in 32 (62.7 %), and absence of neonatal intensive care in 29 (56.9 %). The challenges varied from country to country but did not differ in the two groups. Improvement has been achieved in outcomes of neonatal surgery in Africa in the past two decades, although several of the studies reviewed are retrospective and poorly designed. Cost effective adaptations for neonatal intensive care, improved health-care funding, coordinated neonatal surgical care via regional centres, and collaboration with international partners are potential interventions that could help to address the challenges and further improve outcome.

Ekwunife H.O., Jideoffor U., Victor M., Andrew N O.

Background: Gastrointestinal perforation (GIP) in neonates presents important challenges and mortality can be high. This is a report of recent experience with GIP in neonates in a developing country.Patients and methods: A retrospective review of 16 neonates treated for GIP in a 3 year period.Results: There were 9 males and 7 females, aged 0-28 days (median age =7days). Their weights at presentation ranged from 0.9 - 4.7kg (median =2.6). Five infants were premature. Twelve infants presented more than 72 hours after onset of symptoms. Plain abdominal radiographs showed peumoperitoneum in 9 infants. The cause of perforation was necrotising enterocolitis 6, intestinal obstruction 6, iatrogenic 3 and spontaneous 1. The site of perforation was ileum in 12 infants, stomach in 4 and colon in 4; 4 patients had involvement of more than one site. All the neonates underwent exploratory laparotomy with primary closure ( n=5) , resection and anastomosis( n=6), colostomy (n=3), Ileostomy ( n=2), partial gastrectomy (n=2) ,or gastrojejunostomy ( n=1). Two neonates had multiple procedures. Two very sick preterm babies had an initial peritoneal lavage. Surgical site infection is the commonest postoperative complication occurring in 9 infants. Anaesthesia sepsis and malnutrition is responsible for the seven deaths recorded.Conclusions: Neonatal GIP has multiple aetiologies; NEC is the most common cause. Major mortality risk factors include NEC, multiple perforations, delayed presentation and prematurity.

Ragouilliaux C.J., Keeney S.E., Hawkins H.K., Rowen J.L.

BACKGROUND. Spontaneous intestinal perforation of the extremely low birth weight infant (≤1000 g) is associated with a high incidence of Candida and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sepsis. Little is known about prenatal risk factors, and histopathologic examination of placentas in infants with spontaneous intestinal perforation has not been reported. OBJECTIVES. Our objective was to investigate maternal factors and specific placental findings in a sample of infants with spontaneous intestinal perforation. We compared the maternal factors and clinical outcomes to a matched control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS. This single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2001 and December 2005. The records of extremely low birth weight infants with spontaneous intestinal perforation were reviewed (n = 16). Study infants were matched to 2 infants in the control group; any twin of a study patient was also included as a control subject (n = 35). Histopathologic examination of placentas included standard hematoxylin and eosin and methenamine silver stains. RESULTS. Infants with spontaneous intestinal perforation were more likely than control subjects to have severe placental chorioamnionitis with fetal vascular response (40% vs 12%); 2 placentas also tested positive for yeast versus none in the control subjects. Mothers of infants with spontaneous intestinal perforation were more likely than control subjects to have received antibiotics before or at delivery (93% vs 57%). Fifty percent of the infants had Candida, and 31% in the spontaneous intestinal perforation group had coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sepsis versus 6% in the control subjects. Finally, infants with spontaneous intestinal perforation had delayed enteral feeding (64 ± 30 vs 31 ± 10 days) and prolonged hospitalization (155 ± 48 vs 108 ± 36 days). CONCLUSIONS. Spontaneous intestinal perforation in the extremely low birth weight infant is a neonatal disease related to placental inflammation. We alert practitioners to the importance of placental findings, because they may be positive for yeast.

Hutson J.M.

Holland A.J., Shun A., Martin H.C., Cooke-Yarborough C., Holland J.

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.

Hwang H., Murphy J.J., Gow K.W., Magee J.F., Bekhit E., Jamieson D.

Localized intestinal perforation (LP) is thought to be a distinct entity when compared with perforation associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Studies have indicated that LP is more amenable to percutaneous drainage and associated with a better outcome. We sought to determine whether LP and NEC could be distinguished based on clinical parameters alone.A retrospective review of 40 neonates with gastrointestinal perforations between January 1990 and May 1998 was performed. All had undergone laparotomy and had histologic specimens available for evaluation.Twenty-one neonates had necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and 19 had localized perforation (LP) based on histologic criteria. More neonates with LP were exposed to prenatal indomethacin (37% v 5%; P

Pumberger W., Mayr M., Kohlhauser C., Weninger M.

Idiopathic spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP), a distinct clinical entity different from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), has an increasing prevalence in very-low-birth-weight infants. The aims of our study were to define patient characteristics and potential risk factors for premature infants with SIP compared with infants subjected to surgical treatment for NEC.The medical records of 29 premature infants with either SIP (n = 13) or NEC (n = 16) were reviewed retrospectively.Infants who experienced SIP were smaller at birth, had lower Apgar scores, and required more intensive neonatal resuscitation. An increased rate of premature rupture of membranes in infants with SIP (8/13 versus 6/16) was not associated with a higher rate of infection in mothers or infants. The onset of illness in SIP was significantly earlier than in NEC (p = 0.022). In contrast to patients with NEC (7/16), 11 of 13 patients in the SIP group had received indomethacin (p = 0.02). Bluish discoloration of the abdomen (8/13), a gasless abdomen (8/13), and the absence of pneumatosis intestinalis (0/13) were further significant markers in infants with SIP. At operation, SIP was always located in the terminal ileum in an antimesenteric position (13/13), and the remaining bowel appeared grossly normal. In most cases of SIP (10/13), the histologic investigation revealed an area of hemorrhagic necrosis without the typical coagulation necrosis seen predominantly in NEC.Based on clinical presentation and radiologic and intraoperative findings, SIP is a distinct pathologic entity in very-low-birth-weight infants and can be differentiated from classic NEC. Detected early, SIP can be treated by simple procedures (sutures, or resection and primary anastomosis) with a low rate of morbidity and mortality.

Chirdan L.B., Ameh E.A.

Between 1990 and 1999, 14 neonates with intestinal perforation were treated at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. Median age at presentation was 9 days and median weight 2.65 kg. Five had high anorectal malformation, three Hirschsprung's disease and two ruptured exomphalos with bowel strangulation. Gastroschisis, strangulated inguinal hernia, ileal atresia and umbilical sepsis with evisceration accounted for one case each. Two of the perforations were iatrogenic during colostomy construction. Seven perforations were in the small bowel and seven in the colorectum. Three neonates had oedema and tenderness of the anterior abdominal wall, and pneumoperitoneum was seen in abdominal radiographs in two. All the infants had laparotomy, four under local anaesthesia, after resuscitation. Three had simple suture of the perforation, five had resection with primary anastomosis and six had exteriorization colostomy. Overall, eight (59%) died, five with colorectal perforation and three with small bowel perforation.