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Bowel obstruction following pediatric abdominal cancer surgery

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Abstract

Introduction

Pediatric bowel obstruction after intra-abdominal cancer surgery is relatively frequent. Few publications have specifically addressed this significant complication. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency, etiology and treatment options of bowel obstructions following abdominal cancer surgery in children using our institutional database.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed a single tertiary pediatric hospital database over a 10-year period. The clinical characteristics of patients with and without bowel obstruction were compared using bivariate analyses. The details of the conservative and operative management of bowel obstructions were evaluated.

Results

Out of 130 eligible patients, 18 (13.8%) developed bowel obstruction in a mean follow-up of 5.7 years. Patients who developed bowel obstruction were more likely to have received preoperative radiation therapy (16.7 vs 2.7%, p = 0.036) and had longer operative time (398 vs 268 min, p = 0.022). Non-operative management was successful in 39% of patients (7/18). When patients needed surgical intervention, minimally invasive approach was attempted and successfully performed in 36% of cases (4/11), none of which required conversion to laparotomy nor presented with recurrent bowel obstruction.

Conclusion

Bowel obstruction is a frequent complication after abdominal cancer surgery in children. Conservative management is frequently successful. For patients requiring surgical treatment, laparoscopy remains a valuable option and should be considered in selected cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Montréal, CHU Ste-Justine, 3175 chemin cote Ste-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada

    Merieme Habti

  2. Département de Chirurgie, Université de Montréal, CHU Ste-Justine, 3175 chemin cote Ste-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada

    Shin Miyata & Julien Côté

  3. Pediatric Surgery Department, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Passaig Sant Joan de Deu 2, 08950, Barcelona, Spain

    Lucas Krauel

  4. Pediatric Surgery Department, Université de Montréal, CHU Ste-Justine, 3175 Chemin cote Ste-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada

    Nelson Piché

Authors
  1. Merieme Habti
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  2. Shin Miyata
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  3. Julien Côté
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  4. Lucas Krauel
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  5. Nelson Piché
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Correspondence to Nelson Piché.

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Habti, M., Miyata, S., Côté, J. et al. Bowel obstruction following pediatric abdominal cancer surgery. Pediatr Surg Int 38, 1041–1045 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-022-05127-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-022-05127-w

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