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Eur J Pediatr Surg
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1764239
Original Article

Intestinal Malrotation in Children: Clinical Presentation and Outcomes

Karin Salehi Karlslätt 
1   Department of Women's and Children's Health, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
2   Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
,
Britt Husberg
3   Department of General Surgery, Ersta Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
,
Ulla Ullberg
4   Department of Pediatric Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
,
Agenta Nordenskjöld
1   Department of Women's and Children's Health, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
5   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
,
Tomas Wester
5   Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
6   Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
› Author Affiliations Funding 1. 2016-01642 Swedish Research Council 2016 2. Stiftelsen Frimurare Barnhuset i Stockholm 2020 3. 2020-00557, 2021-00644 H.K.H. Kronprinsessan Lovisas Förening För Barnasjukvård/Stiftelsen Axel Tielmans Minnesfond 2020, 2021 4. Sällskapet Barnavård 2017
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Abstract

Introduction Intestinal malrotation (IM) is characterized by abnormal intestinal rotation and fixation predisposing to a risk of midgut volvulus. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation and outcome of IM from birth through childhood.

Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of children with IM managed at a single center between 1983 and 2016. Data were retrieved from medical records and analyzed.

Results Three hundred nineteen patients were eligible for the study. Using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 138 children were included. Vomiting was the most common symptom up to 5 years of age. At 6 to 15 years of age, abdominal pain was the predominant symptom. One hundred twenty-five patients underwent a Ladd's procedure and of 124 patients with available data, 20% had a postoperative complication (Clavien-Dindo IIIb-V) within 30 days. The odds ratio to develop postoperative complications was significantly increased in extremely preterm patients (p = 0.001) and in patients with severely affected intestinal circulation (p = 0.006). Two patients had intestinal failure due to midgut loss after midgut volvulus, one of whom needed intestinal transplantation. Four patients, all extremely preterm, died related to the surgical procedure. In addition, seven patients died of reasons not related to IM. Fourteen patients (11%) had adhesive bowel obstruction and one patient had recurrent midgut volvulus requiring surgical treatment.

Conclusions IM presents with different symptoms through childhood depending on age. Postoperative complications are common after Ladd's procedure, particularly among extremely preterm infants and patients with severely affected circulation caused by midgut volvulus.

Keywords

intestinal malrotation - intestinal rotation abnormalities - malrotation - midgut volvulus

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 03 November 2022

Accepted: 19 January 2023

Article published online:
07 March 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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