Intestinal malrotation--experience with 56 patients.
Intestinal malrotation is a common cause of upper gastro-intestinal obstruction and presents with duodenal obstruction caused by volvulus of the midgut loop. Patients are therefore at risk of catastrophic midgut infarction and it is a more frequent cause of duodenal obstruction in infants than duodenal atresia (92% in the neonatal period). Urgent upper contrast studies under surgical supervision are necessary in those patients whose plain films are not diagnostic. Rectal bleeding is an ominous sign, with 78% of patients having gangrenous bowel. Total midgut infarction is incompatible with survival in a Third-World environment.
Nair
R
R
Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Natal, Durban.
Hadley
G P
GP
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D007422:Intestines / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa