The role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of intestinal vascular anomalies affecting two small infants.
Two infants affected by intestinal vascular anomalies causing lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage are reported. Upper and lower gastrointestinal tract endoscopy and radionuclide scan were negative. The authors found laparoscopic exploration very useful in detecting the cause and the site of bleeding. Because the usual investigations for gastrointestinal bleeding have been proven to be time-consuming and often unreliable in small infants, the authors suggest considering laparoscopic exploration as a first-line diagnostic tool in this subset of patients. A new diagnostic algorithm for gastrointestinal bleeding in infants is proposed.
Alberti
Daniele
D
Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Liver Transplant Centre, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Largo Barozzi 1, 24100 Bergamo, Italy. danielealberti@yahoo.com
Borsellino
Alessandro
A
Cheli
Maurizio
M
Sonzogni
Aurelio
A
Brena
Mario Leo
ML
Locatelli
Giuseppe
G
D000465:Algorithms; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply*; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000098:blood supply; D014463:Ultrasonography