Prenatal counselling of small bowel atresia: watch the fluid!
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate polyhydramnios as a sign of extreme disproportion of atretic segments in small bowel atresia (SBA).


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with a prenatal diagnosis (PD) of SBA undergoing neonatal surgical treatment were reviewed retrospectively. Parameters recorded were gestational age, birth weight, surgical procedure, rate of complications, parenteral nutrition (PN) days and length of stay (LOS). Patients were divided into two groups: Group A with delayed anastomosis and Group B with direct anastomosis.


RESULTS
Seventeen subjects were in Group A while 11 were in Group B. The two groups did not differ with regard to gestational age at diagnosis, birth weight and obstetrical management. Polyhydramnios was present in both Group A (64.7%) and Group B (9%) (p < 0.05). Patients in Group A needed a longer period on PN, had a longer LOS and exhibited significantly higher rates of complication.


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of other malformations, association of dilated bowel loops and polyhydramnios is highly predictive of severe SBA, which can in no instance be amenable to one-stage reconstruction. Because of its consequences on postnatal treatment, such information should be conveyed to the prospective parents at the time of counselling.
Newborn Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. iacobelli@opbg.net
Barbara D
BD
Iacobelli
Antonio
A
Zaccara
Ioannis
I
Spirydakis
Claudio
C
Giorlandino
Irma
I
Capolupo
Antonella
A
Nahom
Pietro
P
Bagolan
D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007902:Length of Stay; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal