Should all babies with oesophageal atresia have routine screening for midgut malrotation anomalies? A systematic review in search of evidence.

Background/Purpose Oesophageal Atresia (OA) is associated with co-existent anomalies. There is a controversy of literature pertaining to the risk (s) of intestinal malrotation. In order to guide management we critically evaluate the incidence of IM anomalies in OA newborns. Design MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched using keywords "(O)Esophageal Atresia and Malrotation/Associated Abnormalities/Associated Anomalies". Full texts of articles were screened if manuscripts exclusively reported patients with OA malrotation and/or associated anomalies. Larger case series (> 10patients) were included if abstract (s) showed that associated anomalies were systematically assessed. Full eligibility criteria required at least one case of malrotation in an OA index case. Data were collected on article type, number of patients and method (s) of diagnosis. Results 632 abstracts were screened of which 158 papers were analysed based on inclusion criteria-30 manuscripts documented the incidence (%) of malrotation. Incidence rate (s) were 0.5-13%. Malrotation was observed to have a higher incidence (10-44%) in OA babies with other gastrointestinal anomalies (VACTERL). Conclusion Newborns with OA appear to be at a higher risk (%) of having intestinal malrotation anomalies than healthy babies. Prospective studies are required to accurately quantify and define the ' true incidence ' of this association. Given the potential lethal consequences of midgut volvulus screening may be justified in OA babies. Consensus guidelines (DELPHI) exploring surgeons attitudes with regards management of ' asymptomatic malrotation ' disorders in OA newborns may further guide best practice.

Gallbladder contractility in liver cirrhosis: comparative study in patients with and without gallbladder stones.

An increased prevalence of gallstones was demonstrated in patients with liver cirhosis, higher in the advanced stages of the disease. Some studies have found impaired emptying of the gallbladder in cirrhotic patients. Our aim here was to investigate gallbladder emptying in cirrhotic patients with and without gallstones to find out whether emptying is further impaired in the presence of gallstones. The study group comprised 24 patients with liver cirrhosis and gallstones, 8 in each Child class. The controls were represented by 18 cirrhotic patients without gallstones, 6 in each Child class. Fasting gallbladder volume was calculated by ultrasound using the ellipsoid formula. Gallbladder emptying was evaluated for 90 min after ingestion of a solid-liquid meal (14 g fat, 425 kcal), by assessing minimal residual volume, gallbladder ejection fraction, and area under emptying curve at 15-min intervals. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-tailed Students' t test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. In controls, gallbladder fasting and residual volumes increased with the severity of cirrhosis, but gallbladder emptying did not change significantly. In cirrhotics with gallstones, gallbladder emptying decreased in Child C compared with Child A class patients and, also, compared to Child C controls. The number or size of gallstones, as well as the thickness of the gallbladder wall, did not correlate with gallbladder emptying parameters. Gallbladder contractility is impaired in patients with liver cirrhosis and gallstones. Hypomotility is proportional to the severity of liver disease. Gallbladder hypomotility might contribute to the increased gallstone formation in patients with advanced cirrhosis.