Factors Associated with Postoperative Complications After Congenital Duodenal Obstruction Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: Duodenal atresia and stenosis are common causes of intestinal obstruction. Associated anomalies significantly influence early postoperative mortality, while postoperative complications impact long-term survival. Materials and Methods: Over a 13-year period from January 2010 to August 2023, a total of 74 infants and children with congenital duodenal obstruction were treated at "Grigore Alexandrescu" Children's Emergency Hospital and met the inclusion criteria. All patients diagnosed with duodenal obstruction (both instrinsic and extrinsic causes) were included. Analysed data included congenital anomalies, Apgar scores, birth weights, surgical techniques, and complications. Results: The associated anomalies included cardiac (n = 33), Down syndrome (n = 13), neurological (n = 11), pulmonary (n = 7), renal (n = 4), skeletal (n = 1), and gastrointestinal and hepatobiliopancreatic anomalies (n = 25). In total, 12 patients experienced perioperative ventilation problems. Early postoperative complications (within 30 days) occurred in 21 patients, while 6 had late postoperative complications (after 30 days). Among non-surgical complications, we noted ventilation problems, sepsis (n = 7), and pneumothorax (n = 1). Surgical complications included adhesive bowel obstruction (n = 7), incisional hernia (n = 3), peritonitis (n = 3), dysfunctional duodenoduodenostomy or duodenojejunostomy (n = 3), pneumoperitoneum (n = 5), enteric fistula (n = 3), and volvulus (n = 4). Conclusions: Surprisingly, this retrospective study revealed that an Apgar score below 8, along with neurological and pulmonary abnormalities, is associated with postoperative complications. Conversely, other congenital anomalies, low birth weight, and age at admission do not serve as prognostic factors.

Duodenal stenosis due to small lymphocele after para-aortic lymphadenectomy: A case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: We present an unusual case of a small para-aortic lymphocele causing duodenal stenosis after lymphadenectomy and discuss its treatment. CASE REPORT: Our case involved a 57-year-old woman with endometrial cancer who underwent surgery, including para-aortic lymphadenectomy. On postoperative day 7, projectile vomiting occurred. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a small lymphocele in the dorsal duodenum, causing duodenal stenosis. Transpercutaneous and transduodenal puncture or surgical procedures were difficult because the cyst was too small. Per endoscopic and gastrointestinal series findings on the postoperative day 22, a liquid diet was presumed to be able to pass through the narrow portion. Hence, concentrated liquid food was administered orally; no vomiting occurred. At 2 months postoperatively, CT showed no lymphocele. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment involving waiting for spontaneous lymphocele reduction with a concentrated fluid diet may be considered in such cases if fluid passage is confirmed with endoscopy and gastrointestinal series.

Duodenal ileus caused by a cage magnet in a Fleckvieh cow.

The present report aims to describe the case of a duodenal obstruction ileus in a dairy cow that was caused by a cage magnet. The 4.7-year-old German Fleckvieh cow was hospitalized because of symptoms of intestinal obstruction such as anorexia, noticeable drop in milk yield, reduced defecation, dehydration and positive percussion and swinging auscultation in a circumscribed area cranial of the right flank over the last 2 ribs. Six months as well as 3 days prior to hospitalization the cow had already been treated for signs of hardware disease, which included administration of a cage magnet.After the initial clinical diagnostic procedure on hospital admission, a diagnostic laparotomy in the right paralumbar fossa was performed to identify the cause of the ileus. The cranial part of the duodenum was markedly dilated, and a solid foreign body was found obstructing the intestine immediately aboral to the duodenal sigmoid flexure. This was identified as a cage magnet, which was massaged in retrograde direction into the pyloric antrum and removed via abomasotomy. The cow recovered from surgical intervention and was discharged from the hospital 6 days later.The present report describes an unusual complication of cage magnet administration, which is a standard veterinary procedure and generally considered a safe treatment option in cows with clinical signs of acute traumatic reticuloperitonitis.

Utility of the web excision with pre-membranous incision for congenital intestinal atresia-type I and stenosis.

PURPOSE: This study analyzed the efficacy of web excision combined with a pre-membranous incision on the dilated proximal segment for congenital intestinal atresia with type I and stenosis (CIA-I/S). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients underwent surgery for CIA-I/S from January 1990 to June 2022. Patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the surgical procedure: Group A, web excision with pre-membranous incision of the dilated intestine (n = 14); Group B, enteroplasty with a trans-membranous vertical incision (n = 7) and Group C, diamond-shaped anastomosis (n = 5). To minimize the impact of obstruction location on outcomes, we specifically examined 17 cases of duodenal atresia/stenosis: Group D-A, (n = 6); Group D-B, (n = 6) and Group D-C, (n = 5). We retrospectively compared the operative and postoperative parameters among the three groups. RESULTS: No patient experienced anastomotic leakage or obstruction. There were no significant differences in operative duration or blood loss among the 3 Groups. The median time to feeding initiation was 4, 6.5, and 5 days in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (p = 0.04) and was 4, 6.5, and 5 days in Groups D-A, D-B, and D-C, respectively (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Web excision, when compared to enteroplasty and diamond-shaped anastomosis, showed comparable results in terms of the operative duration and postoperative complications. However, it may allow for an earlier initiation of enteral nutrition.

Unusual neonatal case of superior mesenteric artery syndrome with Meckel's diverticulum and literature review.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is a rare cause of duodenal obstruction which is characterized by compression of the duodenum due to narrowing of the space between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta. Incomplete duodenal obstruction due to SMAS in neonates is rarely reported in the literature. In this case, it is a full-term 2-day-old male with the complaint of recurrent vomiting starting soon after birth. The patient was diagnosed with SMAS and duodenoduodenostomy was performed. Accompanying Meckel's diverticulum was excised.

El síndrome de la arteria mesentérica superior (SMAS) es una causa rara de obstrucción duodenal que se caracteriza por la compresión del duodeno debido al estrechamiento del espacio entre la arteria mesentérica superior y la aorta. La obstrucción duodenal incompleta por SMAS en recién nacidos rara vez se informa en la literatura. En este caso se trata de un varón de 2 días nacido a término que presenta vómitos recurrentes desde poco después del nacimiento. El paciente fue diagnosticado de SMAS y se le realizó duodenoduodenostomía. Se extirpó el divertículo de Meckel que lo acompañaba.

Clinical outcomes of serial endoscopic balloon dilation for duodenal Crohn's disease-associated strictures.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is a safe and effective treatment for Crohn's disease (CD)-associated strictures. However, serial EBDs have rarely been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of serial EBDs for treating CD-associated duodenal strictures compared with intermittent EBDs. METHODS: Patients with CD-associated duodenal strictures who underwent EBD were recruited. The clinical data, stricture characteristics, number of EBDs, dilation diameter, complications, surgical interventions, and follow-up periods were recorded. Patients were divided into a serial dilation group and an intermittent dilation group to analyze the differences in safety and efficacy. RESULTS: Forty-five patients with duodenal CD-associated strictures underwent a total of 139 dilations. A total of 23 patients in the serial dilation group underwent 72 dilations, for a median of 3 (range 3 ~ 4) dilations per patient, and 22 patients in the intermittent dilation group underwent 67 dilations, for a median of 3 (range 1 ~ 6) dilations per patient. Technical success was achieved in 97.84% (136/139) of the patients. During the follow-up period, three patients in the intermittent dilation group underwent surgery, and the total clinical efficacy was 93.33% (42/45). No difference in safety or short-term efficacy was noted between the two groups, but serial EBDs exhibited significantly greater clinical efficacy between 6 months and 2 years. No significant difference in recurrence-free survival was observed, but the median longest recurrence-free survival and recurrence-free survival after the last EBD in the serial dilation group were 693 days (range 298 ~ 1381) and 815 days (range 502 ~ 1235), respectively, which were significantly longer than the 415 days (range 35 ~ 1493) and 291 days (range 34 ~ 1493) in the intermittent dilation group (p = 0.013 and p = 0.000, respectively). At the last follow-up, the mean diameter of the duodenal lumen was 1.17 ± 0.07 cm in the serial dilation group, which was greater than the 1.11 ± 0.10 cm in the intermittent dilation group (p = 0.018). We also found that the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease was associated with an increased risk of surgical intervention (HR 2.377, 95% CI 1.125-5.020; p = 0.023) and recurrence at 6 months after the last EBD (HR 0.698, 95% CI 0.511-0.953; p = 0.024), as assessed by univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the intermittent EBDs, serial EBDs for duodenal CD-associated strictures exhibit greater clinical efficacy within two years and could delay stricture recurrence. We suggest that serial EBDs can be a novel option for endoscopic treatment of duodenal CD-associated strictures.

Bouveret Syndrome: A Curious Simultaneous Presentation of Two Cases: Comparison of Clinical Observations and Surgical Management.

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon occurrence and accounts for about 0.3-0.5% of complications of cholelithiasis in elderly patients. Bouveret syndrome is an uncommon medical condition resulting from the blockage of the duodenal bulb by a stone, which consequently obstructs the outlet of the stomach. Until now, a comparison of two different presentations of Bouveret syndrome has not been published in the literature due to the rarity of this pathology. The curious simultaneous occurrence of the two cases discussed here made it possible for us to compare the different diagnostic and therapeutic pathways. In fact, both cases differ not only in their presenting symptoms, but also in the management adopted by the same surgical team.

Unveiling a Silent Obstructor: Phytobezoar in the Third Duodenal Segment.

We present a case of obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum secondary to a phytobezoar in an adult patient with no surgical history and without a vegan diet. High intestinal obstruction due to a phytobezoar is rarely described in the literature, posing a diagnostic challenge when evaluating potential differentials in the emergency setting. Subsequently, we conduct a review focusing on tomographic findings and the surgical specimen, highlighting key points to consider when addressing such pathologies.

[A case of R0 resection in conversion surgery after duodenal stent placement for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer with duodenal stenosis].

A 67-year-old man presented to our hospital with vomiting. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed duodenal stenosis and atypical epithelium. A tumor in the pancreatic head, about 30mm in size, involving the superior mesenteric artery and a superior mesenteric vein was identified using abdominal contrast computed tomography (CT). Locally advanced pancreatic cancer was diagnosed in the patient through an endoscopic biopsy. Due to the duodenal stenosis complication, duodenal stent placement was conducted. After stent placement, oral intake was resumed, and improvement of the systemic condition led to chemotherapy (modified FOLFIRINOX). After chemotherapy, CT revealed decreased carcinoma progression and vascular invasion. Conversion surgery was improved, and R0 resection was achieved. Our study showed that duodenal stent placement could enhance prognosis;as a result, it was regarded as a good choice for multidisciplinary therapy.

Laparoscopic repair of duodenal atresia: systematic review and meta-analysis after consistent implementation of the technique in the past decade.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic repair of duodenal atresia (LRDA) remains a technically challenging procedure and its benefits ambiguous. To assess the safety and efficacy of LRDA, we performed a systematic review of techniques and material for LRDA and a meta-analysis comparing outcomes with open repair (OR). METHODS: Comprehensive search of EMBASSE, PubMed and Cochrane was performed from 2000 to 2023. Studies comparing LRDA with OR were identified and outcomes extracted included operative time, time to enteral feeds, length of hospitalisation, anastomotic leaks and stricture and total complications. χ2 was used to assess associations between complications and conversions rates of different LRDA approaches (laparoscopic technique, suturing technique). Comprehensive meta-analysis was used for Meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twelve studies were identified and 1731 patients were enrolled in the study (398 [LRDA] and 1325 [OR]). Total rate of complications and conversion for LRDA was 15.58% and 18.84%, respectively. Complication rates were not significantly affected by operative technique and suturing technique. Conversion rates were not significantly affected operative technique; using a combination of interrupted and running suturing was significantly higher than using running or interrupted (χ2 = 7.45, p < 0.05). Anastomotic leaks, strictures and total complications were equivocal between LRDA and OR (OR 1.672, 95% CI 0.796-3.514; OR 2.010, 95% CI 0.758-5.333; OR 1.172, 95% CI 0.195-7.03). Operative time was significantly greater for LRDA (SDM 1.035, 95% CI 0.574-1.495, p < 0.001). Time to initial and full enteral feeds and length of hospitalisation were shorter in the LRDA group (SDM - 0.493, 95% CI - 2.166 to 1.752, p = 0.466; SDM - 0.207, 95% CI - 1.807 to 0.822, p = 0.019; SDM - 0.111, 95% CI - 1.101 to 0.880, p = 0.466, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: LRDA showed equivalent complication rates compared to OR with an additional benefit of quicker establishment of feeds. There was no significant difference in complication and conversion rates between laparoscopic techniques. Despite a longer operative time, LRDA provides a safe minimal access approach for neonates after this consistent implementation of the technique in the past decade.

Exploring the clinical characteristics and prevalence of the annular pancreas: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The annular pancreas (AP) is a rare gastrointestinal congenital malformation, in which malrotation of the pancreatic ventral bud in the seventh week of embryonic development manifests in a partial or complete ring of tissue around the second part of the duodenum. METHODS: The main online medical databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley online library, Web of Science, and EBSCO discovery service were used to gather all relevant studies on the AP. RESULTS: A total of 12,729,118 patients were analyzed in relation to the prevalence of AP. The pooled prevalence of AP was 0.0045% (95% CI: 0.0021%-0.0077%). The most frequent comorbidity in adults and children was duodenal obstruction, with a pooled prevalence of 24.04% and 52.58%, respectively (95% CI: 6.86%-46.48% and 35.56%-69.31%, respectively). The most frequent operation in adult patients with AP was duodenojejunostomy, with pooled prevalence established at 3.62% (95% CI: 0.00%-10.74%). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic complexity of AP is accentuated by its nonspecific clinical symptoms, making accurate identification reliant on imaging studies. Therefore, having a thorough knowledge of the clinical characteristics of the AP and its associated anomalies becomes paramount when faced with this rare congenital condition.

Clinical outcomes of different types of metallic stents in malignant distal duodenum stenosis: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Endoscopic stenting at malignant distal duodenum stenosis (MDDS) is challenging because of the duodenal C-loop configuration, the acute angle of the duodenojejunal junction, and the limited length of the endoscope. Few studies have investigated the clinical outcomes of stenting at the distal duodenum. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of treating MDDS with different types of metallic stents. METHODS: From January 2012 to December 2020, fifty-six patients with MDDS who underwent duodenal stenting were enrolled for analysis. Thirty-five patients received uncovered self-expandable metallic stents (UC-SEMS), and twenty-one patients received partially covered self-expandable metallic stents (PC-SEMS). All patients were followed up till death or for 18 months. The clinical success rate, stent dysfunction rate, and stent patency were compared between the groups. Multivariate analysis was conducted to identify factors related to stent dysfunction. RESULTS: The clinical success rates were 85.7 % in both the UC-SEMS and PC-SEMS groups. Stent dysfunction rates (UC-SEMS: 34.3 %, PC-SEMS: 38.1 %, p = 0.773) and the average stent patency (UC-SEMS: 117.2 days, PC-SEMS: 100.0 days, p = 0.576) were not statistically different between the groups. Multivariate analysis disclosed the age ≥65 years was significantly related to stent dysfunction (odds ratio: 4.78, p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Both UC-SEMS and PC-SEMS are safe and effective treatment options for MDDS. However, stent dysfunction remains a significant issue to overcome, particularly in the elderly. Further research is needed to explore novel strategies that can improve the effectiveness of stent placement and reduce the risk of stent dysfunction.

A strange congenital disease, familial megaduodenus: review of the literature.

Familial megaduodenum is an extremely rare congenital disease, with few cases described in the literatura, that is caused by chronic duodenal obstruction of functional type. It presents in the form of nonspecific clinical pseudo-obstruction from infancy, which causes a delay in its diagnosis and treatment. Conservative treatments are rarely sufficient in and of themselves to control the disease, making surgery an effective option in selected patients for relieving or avoiding obstruction, as well as improving duodenal emptying and restoring gastrointestinal tract continuity, paying special attention to the duodenal papilla. We present a case treated at the General Surgery and Digestive Apparatus Service of the Hospital of Mérida and a review of the existing literature.