Intestinal Rotation Anomalies in Childhood: Review of 22 Years’ Experience

Purpose

We review our experience of treating intestinal rotation anomalies in infants and children in the 22-year period between 1978 and 2000.

Methods

The type of operation performed, postoperative complications, and mortality were compared in three age groups. Group 1 consisted of neonates ≪1 month old, Group 2 consisted of infants aged ≪1 year old, and Group 3 consisted of children aged ≫1 year old.

Results

There were 101 infants and children, with a female : male ratio of 2 : 1. Of the 101 patients, 72 (71%) were neonates, with a mean age of 11.8 days (range 1–28 days); 20 (19.8%) were under the age of 1 year, with a mean age of 6.7 months (range 1–12 months); and 9 (8.9%) were ≫1 year of age, with a mean age of 6 years (range 1–9 years). Eighty-five (84%) patients underwent emergency procedures. Ladd’s operation was performed in all patients, with various additional procedures. The most frequent postoperative complications were adhesive intestinal obstruction, stoma necrosis, evisceration, and short bowel syndrome. The mortality rate was 36% in Group 1, 20% in Group 2, and 0% in Group 3.

Conclusions

In this series surgery was usually performed as an emergency procedure, with higher morbidity and mortality in newborns than in older infants and children.