Alimentary tract duplications in children: high incidence of associated anomalies.
BACKGROUND
Alimentary tract duplications (ATDs) are rare congenital anomalies affecting about 1 in 4500 newborns with a male/female ratio of 1.2 : 1. The presence of associated, sometimes complex congenital anomalies can pose a challenge to surgeons treating patients with ATDs. The aim of this work was to study the characteristics of ATDs and associated anomalies in our patients.


METHODS
Retrospective study. Medical charts of 24 patients (7 males, 17 females) diagnosed with ATD during the years 1990 - 2001 at the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Motol Children's Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic were reviewed.


RESULTS
Sixteen patients (67 %) were diagnosed at ages younger than 3 years. Eight cases were foregut duplications, 9 were midgut, and 7 hindgut anomalies. In 13 patients (54 %) associated malformations were documented. Eight patients (33 %) developed postoperative complications, 1 patient died. Complications were more frequent in the group of patients with associated anomalies (53 % vs. 9 %).


CONCLUSIONS
Associated congenital malformations are frequently present in patients with ATDs. The complexity of the surgical repair of these anomalies may contribute to higher morbidity and mortality rates. A thorough examination to identify and characterise the presence of ATDs and associated congenital defects would provide appropriate diagnostic and surgical approaches for these patients.
Gálvez
Y
Y
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Motol Children's Hospital, Charles University, 2nd School of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
Skába
R
R
Kalousová
J
J
Rousková
B
B
Hríbal
Z
Z
Snajdauf
J
J
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications; D004065:Digestive System Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies