Gastric pneumatosis in a small-for-gestational-age neonate.

We describe a dysmature (small-for-gestational-age) neonate born at term with multiple congenital defects, who presented with bloody diarrhoea. The abdominal X-ray showed gastric pneumatosis. The patient was treated conservatively with intravenous fluids and antibiotics, and recovered uneventfully. The patient underwent genetic investigation, and was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Gastric pneumatosis is rare, and may be the result of neonatal sepsis, gastritis, pyloric stenosis, necrotising enterocolitis of the stomach, misplacement of nasogastric tubes, or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. Furthermore, it is speculated that gastric pneumatosis might more frequently occur with congenital, cardiac or genetic disorders.

[A case of congenital chloridorrhea: the diagnostic contribution of pre- and postnatal echography]. / Un caso di cloridrorrea congenita: contributo diagnostico ecografico pre-postnatale.

The authors describe a case of "congenital chloride diarrhea" in a preterm female infant with a profound chronic diarrhea beginning at birth. The disease lies in a defect of active intestinal Cl- transport which results in a large loss of the electrolytes and water. To prevent a reduced growth and the renal involvement an adequate replacement therapy is necessary.

Prenatal presentation of congenital chloride diarrhea: clinical report and review of the literature.

A case of congenital chloride diarrhea was diagnosed after delivery in a patient whose antenatal course was notable for massively dilated small and large bowel and persistent, severe hydramnios refractory to therapy. The pathophysiologic mechanism is a dysfunctional chloride-bicarbonate exchange in the brush border of the ileum. Antenatal presentation, prenatal diagnosis, and a review of the current literature are discussed.

[Manifestations of paralytic ileus in infants hospitalized for acute diarrheal syndrome]. / Manifestaciones de íleo paralítico en lactantes hospitalizados por síndrome diarreico agudo.

In order to assess and characterize adynamic ileus (AI) complicating acute diarrhoea (AD) in infants, 802 consecutive admissions were studied. Diagnosis was suspected in 23 patients with abdominal distension and confirmed by radiological study in 16 whose age range was 14 ds to 6 mo. Of these late patients, 9/16 were malnourished. Age was less than, but nutritional status similar to that of all patients admitted with ADD. Vomiting (14/16), silent or almost silent abdomen (10/16), protracted course of diarrhoea (9/16) and increased gastric content (6/16) were the most common clinical findings in addition to abdominal distension and X Ray films suggestive of AI (inclusion criteria). Lack of constipation was a relevant finding. Treatment included temporal discontinuance of oral feedings, intravenous fluids administration, nasogastric and rectal tube and antibiotics. Lethality rate was 4/16. Duration of AI was an average of 2 days in survivors and 4 days in the remainder infants. It is concluded that AI is an infrequent complication of AD (0.19% of cases), which should be suspected in infants less that 6 mo old with diarrhoea and abdominal distension.

Barium enema findings (? segmental colitis) in four neonates with bloody diarrhea--possible cow's milk allergy.

Four neonates with sudden onset of bloody diarrhea and barium enema findings suggestive of segmental colitis are reported. The infants were not very ill and in all four, the condition was self-limiting. An exact etiology for the condition was not determined but in all of the infants a possible association with cow's milk intolerance was suggested.