Meconium ileus : a study and comparison between common operative procedures performed in Basrah

الملخص EN

Meconium ileus accounts for 9–33% of all neonatal intestinal obstructions, with an incidence of 1:2500 newborns, representing the third most common cause of neonatal small bowel obstruction after atresia and malrotation.

This study aimed to compare various surgical procedures used in the treatment of meconium ileus and to assess their efficacy regarding survival and complications.

A retrospective study was done to all cases of meconium ileus admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Basrah hospital of maternity and children and Basrah children specialty hospital during the period of 10 years (2005 to 2015).

The medical records of 57 cases of meconium ileus were studied.

The comparison included: Mikulicz procedure, Bishop-Koop procedure and resection with primary anastomosis in both simple and complex meconium ileus.

The parameters used for comparison were anastomotic leaks, high output diarrhea with dehydration and failure to thrive, sepsis, need for reoperation, wound complications, early adhesions, hospital stay and mortality.

The mean age of presentation of neonates with meconium ileus was 3.9 days.

Male to female ratio was 0.9: 1.

About 10.5% were preterm.

About 33.3% of cases were diagnosed as simple meconium ileus.

Intestinal Volvulus is the predominant complications encountered (47.4%).

Non-operative treatment was effective in 45.5%.

The most common procedures done in our center were Mikulicz procedure (61.5%), followed by Bishop-Koop procedure (30.8%), and resection with primary anastomosis (7.7%).

There was a significant association between mortality and high output fistula, anastomotic leaks, sepsis, and reoperation.

Predominant complications in Mikulicz procedures were high output fistula (50%) and skin excoriation (53.1%), while in Bishop-Koop procedure were sepsis (75%), reoperation (50%), and adhesions (25%).

In primary anastomosis, significant complications were anastomotic leak (75%), sepsis (50%), and reoperation (50%).

Mortality was highest in primary anastomosis (75%), followed by Bishop-Koop procedure (62.5%), and lowest with Mikulicz procedure (40.6%).

The overall mortality of meconium ileus was high 45.6% (42.9% for simple meconium ileus and 52.6% for complex meconium ileus).

All neonates treated non-operatively survived, while the survival rate for those treated surgically was 50%.

In conclusion, resection with stoma creation is superior to primary anastomosis.

Mikulicz procedure is the safest procedure to be done with best survival and less complications.

Bishop- Koop procedure is of value in a situation where the surgeon is afraid from high output diarrhea so proximal stoma is mandatory