Mortality determinants among neonates with intestinal obstruction at king Hussein medical center, Amman, Jordan

Abstract EN

Objective : Neonatal intestinal obstruction (NIO) is a common cause of mortality.

This study focused on the causes of mortality in patients with NIO at the neonatal intensive care unit, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan.

Patients and Methods : Retrospectively we reviewed records of all cases of NIO managed at the neonatal intensive care unit, King Hussein Medical Center (Tertiary referral center), Amman, Jordan, between 1 / 1 / 2008 and 31 / 5 / 2009, and the blamed factors that may cause the mortality were analyzed.

All considerations for optimal neonatal surgical management were utilized.

Results : One hundred twenty sex neonates with intestinal obstruction were managed during the study period.

Eighty-four were males and 42 were females (M / F = 2 / 1).

The majority of the patients (90), (71.4%) presented within the first week of life.

Intestinal Atresia constituted 57.1% of the causes of NIO.

Other causes included Hirschsprung's disease, anorectal malformations and intestinal malrotation with midgut volvulus.

There were 36 deaths, with a mortality rate of 28.6%.

Sepsis (22 neonates), reoperation (4), postoperative bleeding (4) and associated congenital anomalies (6) mainly congenital heart diseases were significant determinants of mortality.

Conclusion : NIO is associated with significant mortality in our centre.

Sepsis, repeat surgery, postoperative bleeding and associated congenital anomalies were the major determinants that contributed to mortality in NIO.