title: Volvulus in term and preterm infants - clinical presentation and outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to assess if term and preterm infants with volvulus showed different patterns with regard to pathogenesis, clinical presentation and outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records and imaging data of infants aged less than six months with volvulus treated in a single surgical referral centre from 2006-2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Volvulus was diagnosed in 19 infants, with no anatomical anomaly in three of the 12 preterm infants and one of the seven term infants. Most cases (74%) presented during the first eight days of life. Later presentations occurred exclusively in preterm infants, with only one of the five having no anatomic anomalies. Bilious vomiting was the leading symptom in six of the seven term infants, while the symptoms in preterm infants were rather nonspecific. Intestinal necrosis, with the need for bowel resection, occurred in one term (14%) infant and nine (75%) preterm infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical presentation and outcome of volvulus differed between preterm and term infants, but the rate and distribution of underlying anomalies did not differ. Symptoms in preterm infants were often nonspecific and led to a delay in diagnosis. This might have contributed to the higher rate of intestinal necrosis in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Vest Children's Hospital Datteln, University of Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horsch
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Vest Children's Hospital Datteln, University of Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany.
authors.forename: Bilge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Pediatric Surgery, Marien-Hospital Herne, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Herne, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf-Bodo
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Tröbs
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Vest Children's Hospital Datteln, University of Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roll
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Bowel obstruction; Ileus; Laparotomy; Malrotation; Neonate