Ijaz Hussain, Jamshed Akhtar, Soofia Ahmed, Abdul Aziz.
Intestinal obstruction in Infants and older Children.
J Surg Pak Jan ;7(1):2-6.

The pattern of intestinal obstruction in 89 children, from different congenital and acquired causes, was reviewed prospectively. All patients presenting with symptoms and signs indicative of bowel obstruction, were assessed for, fluid and electrolyte management. Surgical intervention was carried out, where indicated, otherwise patients managed conservatively. In order to analyze the data, patients were divided into two groups: Infants were enlisted in group A, while toddlers and older children were put together in group B. There were 31 patients in group A. Of this 18(5896) cases were of intussusception, which was the leading cause of bowel obstruction in this age group while rest of the conditions, namely incarcerated inguinal hernia, inflammatory/congenital bands, Hirschsprung`s disease, malrotation, post operative adhesions and mesenteric cyst constituted collectively 42% of bowel obstruction. In group B intestinal obstruction due to ascariasis occurred in 17(29.31%), post operative adhesions in 11(18.95%), Hirschsprung`s disease in 7(12.06%), intussusception in 4(6.89%), mesenteric cyst in 4(6.89%) patients. Tuberculosis was found in 3(5.1796) cases whereas 4(6.88%) cases of inflammatory bands and malrotation were encountered. Five (22.7%) patients in group A and 2(3.44%) in group B died. Thus, it appears that the pattern of intestinal obstruction varies at different age groups in terms of etiology as well as in relative incidence. The outcome depends upon the underlying condition, associated morbidity and age of the patient.

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