Bilious vomiting does not rule out infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

Factors associated with pyloric hypertrophy severity and post-operative feeding and nutritional recovery in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

BACKGROUND

To examine factors that affect the severity of pyloric hypertrophy, post-operative feeding and nutritional recovery in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS).

METHODS

Medical records of infants diagnosed with IHPS at a single tertiary center between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical characteristics, biochemistry data and outcome were assessed for their association with the severity of pyloric hypertrophy and post-operative recovery. Nutritional recovery was assessed using weight-for-age status improvement after surgery.

RESULTS

Eighty-five patients were recruited in this study. The mean pre-operative weight-for-age percentile was 18.2. Elevated bicarbonate was positively correlated with symptom duration (p = 0.007). Pyloric muscle thickness was significantly correlated with age, weight, and symptom duration (p = 0.004, 0.003, 0.008, respectively). The mean weight-for-age percentile increased to 41.6 by post-operative weeks 6-8. Pyloric muscle thickness was negatively correlated with nutritional recovery by post-operative weeks 6-8 (p = 0.003). In multivariable analysis, pyloric length related to nutritional recovery at week 1-2 postoperatively (OR = 1.42, p = 0.030, 95% CI = 0.03-1.94), and pyloric muscle thickness related to nutritional recovery at week 6-8 postoperatively (OR = 4.08, p = 0.032, 95% CI = 1.13-14.7).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicated that favorable nutritional outcome and successful weight gain was observed 6-8 weeks after surgery in children with IHPS. Pyloric muscle thickness positively correlated with age, weight, symptom duration, and favorable nutritional recovery. Serum bicarbonate showed a positive correlation with symptom duration.

Congenital absence of lingual frenum in a non-syndromic patient: a case report

Background

The lingual frenum is a fold of mucous membrane connecting the ventral tongue to the floor of the mouth. In general, lingual frenum serves multiple roles; its main function is to support the tongue and aid in limiting its movement in different directions. Any anatomical or functional deficiency of lingual frenum may have an impact on tongue functions based on its severity. Historically, the absence of lingual frenum was linked to multiple genetic and developmental conditions such as infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, non-syndromic ankyloglossia diseases, and Ehlers–Danlos syndromes and was never reported in otherwise healthy individuals.

Case presentation

We report the absence of lingual frenum in an otherwise healthy 21-year-old Middle Eastern woman diagnosed during a routine dental examination.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case to be reported in the literature with similar clinical presentation. Even without a significant impact on tongue movement or speech, it is important for health practitioners to be aware of such conditions and evaluation steps for diagnosis and management.

Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis: An Epidemiological Review

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is the most common gastrointestinal disease among infants. IHPS occurs as an isolated condition or together with other congenital anomalies. Association with genetic and environmental factors, bottle feeding, younger maternal age, maternal smoking, and erythromycin administration in the first two weeks of life has been shown. Familial aggregation has been described and a family history is seen in 47.9 percent of siblings. Infants typically present with projectile vomiting associated with symptoms of failure to thrive. An olive-like mass palpable in the right upper abdominal quadrant is being reported less frequently because of earlier diagnosis by ultrasound. IHPS is generally corrected through laparoscopic pyloromyotomy. Endoscopic pyloric balloon dilation is a novel alternative. Further studies on different populations, the general population, and familial segregation to determine the prevalence, influence, and mode of familial aggregation and correlation with environmental factors are needed to determine the etiology of IHPS.

Pediatric Abdominal Pain: An Emergency Medicine Perspective

Abdominal pain is a common complaint that leads to pediatric patients seeking emergency care. The emergency care provider has the arduous task of determining which child likely has a benign cause and not missing the devastating condition that needs emergent attention. This article reviews common benign causes of abdominal pain as well as some of the cannot-miss emergent causes.

An infant with poor weight gain and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis: a case report

Bartter syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease manifested by a defect in chloride transport in the thick loop of Henle, with different genetic origins and molecular pathophysiology. Children with Bartter syndrome generally present in early infancy with persistent polyuria and associated dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and failure to thrive. Although early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Bartter syndrome may improve the outcome, some children will progress to renal failure. We report a case of an 8-week-old infant who was admitted for electrolyte imbalance and failure to thrive. Laboratory studies revealed hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis with severe hypokalemia. Health care providers should consider Bartter syndrome when excessive chloride losses appear to be renal in origin and the patient has normal blood pressure and high levels of serum renin and aldosterone. Treatments, including indomethacin, spironolactone, and aggressive fluid and electrolyte replacement, may prevent renal failure in children with Bartter syndrome. Molecular genetics studies are indicated to identify the primary genetic defect.

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: has anything changed?

AIM

The study aims to review the contemporary presentation, diagnosis and treatment of children with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) at an Australian paediatric tertiary centre.

METHODS

A retrospective case review of patients with IHPS presenting to our institution between January 2004 and December 2010 was performed. Results were compared with a previous study evaluating two earlier 6-year series of patients treated between January 1984 and November 1995.

RESULTS

Of 362 infants presenting over the current 7-year review, 84.8% were male. Mean age of admission fell from 5.9 weeks in the previous study to 5.4 weeks. An 'olive' was palpated on examination in 48%, visible peristalsis seen in 25% and 16% of patients presented with haematemesis. Diagnosis solely on clinical examination fell from 74% to 9% and was associated with a corresponding increase in use of ultrasound from 16% to 91%. The frequency of serum chloride values less than 85 mmol/L declined from 26% to 9%. A variety of open and minimally invasive surgical approaches were used with similar outcomes, although laparoscopic pyloromyotomy was associated with significantly higher rates of wound infection (χ(2) = 4.6, P = 0.03). The frequency of major complications remained low at 1%.

CONCLUSION

Contemporary patients with IHPS typically present earlier with a reduction in the incidence of metabolic derangement. Diagnosis based on clinical examination alone appears uncommon, with the majority of suspected cases confirmed by ultrasound. There was no clear difference in overall outcome based on the surgical approach used, although minor variations may reflect our institution's initial experience with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy.