Current practices in the management of corrosive ingestion in children: A questionnaire-based survey and recommendations.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Corrosive ingestion causes significant morbidity in children with no standard guidelines regarding management. This survey aimed to understand practices adopted by gastroenterologists, identify lacunae in evaluation and management and suggest a practical algorithm. METHODS: Indian gastroenterologists participated in an online survey (65 questions) on managing corrosive ingestion. When ≥ 50% of respondents agreed on a management option, it was considered as 'agreement'. RESULTS: Ninety-eight gastroenterologists (72 pediatric) who had managed a total of ~ 2600 corrosive ingestions in the last 5 years responded. The commonest age group affected was 2-5 years (61%). Majority of ingestion was accidental (89%) with 80% due to improper corrosive storage. Ingestion of alkali and acid was equally common (alkali 41%, acid 39%, unknown 20%). History of inducing-vomiting after ingestion by community physicians was present in 57%. There was an agreement on 77% of questions. The respondents agreed on endoscopy (70%) and chest X-ray (67%) in all, irrespective of symptoms. Endoscopy was considered safe on days 1-5 after ingestion (91%) and relatively contraindicated thereafter. The consensus was to use acid suppression, always (59%); steroids, never (68%) and antibiotics, if indicated (59%). Feeding was based on endoscopic findings: oral in mild injuries and nasogastric (NG) in others. Eighty percent placed a NG tube under endoscopic guidance. Stricture dilatation was considered safe after 4 weeks of ingestion. Agreement on duration of acid suppression and stricture management (dilatation protocol and refractory strictures) was lacking. CONCLUSION: Corrosive ingestion mostly affects 2-5-year olds and is accidental in majority. It can be potentially prevented by proper storage and labelling of corrosives. An algorithm for management is proposed.

Monosegment Liver Allografts for Liver Transplantation in Infants Weighing Less Than 6 kg: An Initial Indian Experience.

BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation in small infants is a significant challenge. Liver allografts from adults may be large in size. This is accompanied by problems of graft perfusion, dysfunction, and the inability to achieve primary closure of the abdomen. Monosegment grafts are a way to address these issues. METHODS: Two recipients in our cohort weighed less then 6 kg. The prospective left lateral segments from their donors were large for size. Therefore, monosegment 2 liver grafts were harvested. Data regarding the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative events in the donor and the recipient were recorded. RESULTS: We were able to achieve significant reduction in the sizes of the grafts harvested. The donors underwent surgery and hospital stay uneventfully. The recipients had normal graft perfusion and no graft dysfunction, and we could achieve primary abdominal closure. One recipient had self-limiting bile leak postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Monosegment 2 liver allografts are safe and effective for use in living donor liver transplantation in small infants weighing less than 6 kg.

Paediatric inflammatory bowel disease in India: a prospective multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is increasing across the world. However, information from India is sparse. This multicentre study evaluated the demographics, clinical phenotype and outcome of PIBD from India. METHODS: Data of children (≤18 years) with PIBD were collected using a proforma containing details of demographics, clinical profile, extraintestinal manifestations (EIM), investigations, disease extent and treatment. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-five children [Crohn's disease: 65.2%, ulcerative colitis: 28.0%, IBD unclassified (IBDU): 6.7%, median age at diagnosis: 11 (interquartile range 6.3) years] were enrolled. 6.9% children had family history of IBD. Pancolitis (E4) was predominant in ulcerative colitis (57.8%) and ileocolonic (L3, 55.7%) in Crohn's disease. Perianal disease was present in 10.9% and growth failure in 20.9% of Crohn's disease cases. Steroids were the initial therapy in 84.2%, 5-amino salicylic acid in 67.3% and exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) in 1.3% cases. Overall, immunomodulators and biologics were given to 84.3 and 17.9% cases, respectively, and 2.9% cases underwent surgery. Very early onset IBD (VEOIBD) was seen in 60 (19.2%) children. IBDU was commoner in the VEOIBD than the older-PIBD (18/60 vs 4/253; P < 0.001). VEOIBD-Crohn's disease patients more often had isolated colonic disease than the older Crohn's disease (45.4% vs 11.8%; P < 0.001). Prevalence of perianal disease, EIM, therapeutic requirements and outcome were not different between VEOIBD and older-PIBD. CONCLUSION: Disease location and phenotype of PIBD in Indian children is similar to the children from the west. However, the therapeutic options of EEN, biologics and surgery are underutilized. VEOIBD accounted for 19.2% of PIBD.

A questionnaire survey of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in India.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not uncommon in children and is an important cause of morbidity. Since information on IBD in Indian children is sparse, the study aimed at highlighting the salient features in them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey was done among 221 children and adolescents with IBD [ulcerative colitis (UC) 93 (42.1 %); Crohn's disease (CD) 122 (55.2 %); unclassified (IBD-U) 6 (2.7 %)] across seven centers in India. The cut-off age was 18 years and below. RESULTS: The mean age of presentation for UC and CD was 10.2 ± 4.4 and 11.0 ± 4.5 years, respectively, with no gender difference. Diarrhea (69.9 %, p = 0.001) and blood in the stools (90.3 %, p = 0.0001) were common in UC, whereas abdominal pain (73.8 %, p = 0.01), fever (39.3 %, p = 0.0001), anemia (64.7 %, p = 0.001), and growth failure (76.2 %, p = 0.0001) were common in CD. Extraintestinal manifestations (EIM) were a feature in 23.6 % and 36.1 % of UC and CD, respectively. Pancolitis (E3) was predominant in UC (70.9 %) and 88 % required steroids. Ileocolonic CD (L3) was common in 72.9 %; 76.2 % required azathioprine for maintenance. Of the children with UC, 11.8 % had complications like massive hemorrhage and toxic megacolon, while 27 % of CD had fistulae, perianal abscess, stricture, and perforation. Biologicals were used in 0.8 % of severe UC and in 12.2 % of CD. In UC, 4.3 % required surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (P-IBD) in India shares similarities with adult-onset IBD. Distinctive features were growth failure and more severe forms of the disease necessitating immunomodulators.