Sphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case report

Abstract Background Intussusception is the telescoping of a proximal segment of the bowel into a distal segment. It can be idiopathic or pathological. Children commonly present with colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, a palpable abdominal mass, and bloody stools. Our case describes the unusual present...

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Main Authors: Shung Ken Tan, Chee Wei Tan, Junaidah Hassan, Mohan Arunasalam Nallusamy, Jian An Boo, Pavitratha Puspanathan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2021-08-01
Series:Annals of Pediatric Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43159-021-00103-w
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author Shung Ken Tan
Chee Wei Tan
Junaidah Hassan
Mohan Arunasalam Nallusamy
Jian An Boo
Pavitratha Puspanathan
author_facet Shung Ken Tan
Chee Wei Tan
Junaidah Hassan
Mohan Arunasalam Nallusamy
Jian An Boo
Pavitratha Puspanathan
author_sort Shung Ken Tan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Intussusception is the telescoping of a proximal segment of the bowel into a distal segment. It can be idiopathic or pathological. Children commonly present with colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, a palpable abdominal mass, and bloody stools. Our case describes the unusual presentation of bowel sphacelation with auto-anastomosis in a child with intussusception and its clinical progression. Case presentation A 3-year-old boy with underlying stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma of the left orbit presented with high-grade fever and diarrhea for 1 day. He was treated for neutropenic sepsis in view of low absolute neutrophil count and recent history of chemotherapy. During his admission, he developed abdominal distension, high bilious aspirates, and diarrhea with bloody stools. Abdominal X-ray showed dilated bowel loops. Impression was septic ileus with coagulopathy. He was treated with blood transfusion and bowel rest. On the 6th day of illness, he passed out a tubular structure per rectum which was confirmed to be a segment of gangrenous bowel by histopathological examination. A diagnosis of intussusception with bowel sphacelation was made. He was treated conservatively, and his obstruction was resolved. He was discharged well with no abdominal symptoms during follow-up. Conclusion Intussusception is a common cause of small bowel obstruction in children. A high index of suspicion of intussusception should be maintained in children presenting with vomiting and bloody stools complemented by ultrasound to avoid missing this diagnosis. Sphacelation of the intussuscepted bowel with auto-anastomosis is a rare presentation of intussusception with a favorable outcome.
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spelling doaj.art-d4515272bc494cbf9508a508e91092322022-12-21T20:02:55ZengSpringerOpenAnnals of Pediatric Surgery2090-53942021-08-011711410.1186/s43159-021-00103-wSphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case reportShung Ken Tan0Chee Wei Tan1Junaidah Hassan2Mohan Arunasalam Nallusamy3Jian An Boo4Pavitratha Puspanathan5Paediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Hospital Sultanah BahiyahPaediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Hospital Sultanah BahiyahPaediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Hospital Sultanah BahiyahPaediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Hospital Sultanah BahiyahDepartment of Paediatrics, Hospital Sultanah BahiyahDepartment of Pathology, Hospital Sultanah BahiyahAbstract Background Intussusception is the telescoping of a proximal segment of the bowel into a distal segment. It can be idiopathic or pathological. Children commonly present with colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, a palpable abdominal mass, and bloody stools. Our case describes the unusual presentation of bowel sphacelation with auto-anastomosis in a child with intussusception and its clinical progression. Case presentation A 3-year-old boy with underlying stage IV rhabdomyosarcoma of the left orbit presented with high-grade fever and diarrhea for 1 day. He was treated for neutropenic sepsis in view of low absolute neutrophil count and recent history of chemotherapy. During his admission, he developed abdominal distension, high bilious aspirates, and diarrhea with bloody stools. Abdominal X-ray showed dilated bowel loops. Impression was septic ileus with coagulopathy. He was treated with blood transfusion and bowel rest. On the 6th day of illness, he passed out a tubular structure per rectum which was confirmed to be a segment of gangrenous bowel by histopathological examination. A diagnosis of intussusception with bowel sphacelation was made. He was treated conservatively, and his obstruction was resolved. He was discharged well with no abdominal symptoms during follow-up. Conclusion Intussusception is a common cause of small bowel obstruction in children. A high index of suspicion of intussusception should be maintained in children presenting with vomiting and bloody stools complemented by ultrasound to avoid missing this diagnosis. Sphacelation of the intussuscepted bowel with auto-anastomosis is a rare presentation of intussusception with a favorable outcome.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43159-021-00103-wIntussusceptionGangreneSphacelationBowel auto-anastomosisCase report
spellingShingle Shung Ken Tan
Chee Wei Tan
Junaidah Hassan
Mohan Arunasalam Nallusamy
Jian An Boo
Pavitratha Puspanathan
Sphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case report
Annals of Pediatric Surgery
Intussusception
Gangrene
Sphacelation
Bowel auto-anastomosis
Case report
title Sphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case report
title_full Sphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case report
title_fullStr Sphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case report
title_full_unstemmed Sphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case report
title_short Sphacelation with auto-anastomosis of the intestine: a rare outcome of intussusception in a child—a case report
title_sort sphacelation with auto anastomosis of the intestine a rare outcome of intussusception in a child a case report
topic Intussusception
Gangrene
Sphacelation
Bowel auto-anastomosis
Case report
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43159-021-00103-w
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