Ventral Abdominal Wall Defects

Temporal Trends of Neonatal Surgical Conditions in Texas and Accessibility to Pediatric Surgical Care

INTRODUCTION

Texas consistently accounts for approximately 10% of annual national births, the second highest of all US states. This temporal study aimed to evaluate incidences of neonatal surgical conditions across Texas and to delineate regional pediatric surgeon accessibility.

METHODS

The Texas Birth Defects Registry was queried from 1999 to 2018, based on 11 well-established regions. Nine disorders (30,476 patients) were identified as being within the operative scope of pediatric surgeons: biliary atresia (BA), pyloric stenosis (PS), Hirschsprung's disease, stenosis/atresia of large intestine/rectum/anus, stenosis/atresia of small intestine, tracheoesophageal fistula/esophageal atresia, gastroschisis, omphalocele, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Annual and regional incidences were compared (/10,000 births). Statewide pediatric surgeons were identified through the American Pediatric Surgical Association directory. Regional incidences of neonatal disorder per surgeon were evaluated from 2010 to 2018 as a surrogate for provider disparity.

RESULTS

PS demonstrated the highest incidence (14.405/10,000), while BA had the lowest (0.707/10,000). Overall, incidences of PS and BA decreased significantly, while incidences of Hirschsprung's disease and small intestine increased. Other diagnoses remained stable. Regions 2 (48.24/10,000) and 11 (47.79/10,000) had the highest incidence of neonatal conditions; Region 6 had the lowest (34.68/10,000). Three rural regions (#2, 4, 9) lacked pediatric surgeons from 2010 to 2018. Of regions with at least one surgeon, historically underserved regions (#10, 11) along the Texas-Mexico border consistently had the highest defect per surgeon rates.

CONCLUSIONS

There are temporal and regional differences in incidences of neonatal conditions treated by pediatric surgeons across Texas. Improving access to neonatal care is a complex issue that necessitates collaborative efforts between state legislatures, health systems, and providers.

Pregnancy outcomes and prenatal traditional karyotype analysis with fetal omphalocele

BACKGROUND

Omphalocele is associated with many aneuploidies, deletions and congenital anomalies. This study evaluates pregnancies diagnosed with omphalocele and its relevance to concomitant genetic disorders.

METHODS

The data of patients with the intrauterine diagnosis of omphalocele who had invasive diagnostic testing performed between January 2017 and January 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. The traditional karyotype analysis was performed to prenatal diagnosis for all fetuses. During the study period, all patients were scanned via ultrasonography by an experienced perinatologist, prenatally.

RESULTS

We evaluated 22 cases of omphalocele whose genetic testing results were available. The mean maternal age was 25 (18-41) years. The median gestational week at diagnosis was 13 (11-22). Invasive genetic testing revealed aneuploidy in 7 patients (31.8%), 2 with trisomy 13 (9.1%), and 5 with trisomy 18 (22.8%). There were 5 fetuses (22.7%) that had extracorporeal liver: 1 had trisomy 18 (20%), 1 had trisomy 13 (20%), and the other 3 fetuses had a normal karyotype (60%). Further, 14 (63.6%) pregnancies were terminated: 4 had trisomy 18 (28.6%), 1 had trisomy 13 (7.1%), and 9 of the terminated pregnancies (64.3%) had additional congenital anomalies. There were 4 infants who died (50%) born from 8 patients who decided to continue with their pregnancy. The omphalocele sac of 1 infant spontaneously regressed in the ensuing weeks of pregnancy who is now 1 year old.

CONCLUSIONS

The chromosomal abnormalities presented in up to 31.8% of cases diagnosed with omphalocele. Moreover, for cases with normal genetic testing results, the propensity for additional structural defects was high and the prognosis remains poor. Counseling parents to consider their option of terminating the pregnancy is appropriate.

Coexisting gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract anomalies in omphalocele and gastroschisis: A twenty-year experience in a single tertiary medical center

BACKGROUND

Omphalocele and gastroschisis are the two most common congenital abdominal wall defects; however, no previous study has focused on gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract malformations in these two conditions. This study aimed to investigate the demographic characteristics, coexisting congenital gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract anomalies, hospital course, and outcomes of patients with gastroschisis and omphalocele.

METHODS

This is retrospective chart review of all patients admitted to one tertiary medical center in Taiwan between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2020 with a diagnosis of gastroschisis or omphalocele. The medical records were reviewed to obtain demographic data regarding coexisting gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract anomalies and outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 51 patients included, 21 had gastroschisis and 30 had omphalocele. Gastroschisis was associated with a significantly younger maternal age and a higher incidence of small for gestational age. Of the 30 patients with omphalocele, twelve had associated gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary anomalies. Seven of the 21 patients with gastroschisis had gastrointestinal anomalies, and none had hepatobiliary anomalies. Among the omphalocele patients, three (10%) had documented malrotation, and one developed midgut volvulus. Among gastroschisis patients, four patients (19%) had malrotation, and two developed midgut volvulus. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative complications or mortality rates between those with and without gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary tract anomalies.

CONCLUSION

The diversity of coexisting gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract anomalies is higher in the omphalocele than in gastroschisis. In addition, we demonstrate that patients with gastroschisis or omphalocele have a higher rate of intestinal malrotation and midgut volvulus.

Distinct presentations and management of hernia of the umbilical cord: 15 years’ experience in a tertiary hospital

Background

Hernia of the umbilical cord (HUC) is an uncommon type of abdominal wall defect characterized by a hernia of the midgut into the proximal section of the umbilical cord. This is occasionally coupled with other congenital abnormalities. This is frequently misdiagnosed and referred to as “omphalocele minor.” In certain cases, unintentional cord clamping causes iatrogenic intestinal harm. The purpose of this retrospective study is to highlight various aspects of the HUC therapy in 30 patients with typical and unusual presentations in a tertiary care facility as well as intraoperative findings and associated abnormalities.

Methods

Thirty neonates (21 males and 9 females) with usual and unusual presentations of HUC diagnosed and treated at the King Abdelaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over 15 years period from 2005 to 2020.

Results

Out of 30 cases included, 17 patients were reducible with simple classical HUC repair. While 13 patients had different presentations, six cases presented with irreducible content due to variable reasons, four cases presented with patent vitellointestinal duct (PVID), 2 cases presented with intestinal obstruction, and one case presented late with epithelialized HUC sac.

Conclusions

Attention to HUC should be paid by obstetric professionals in order not to miss it on antenatal ultrasound and careful umbilical cord examination at delivery to avoid clamping of visceral content if present in HUC.

Bladder prolapse through a patent urachus presenting as an umbilical mass in the newborn: characteristic prenatal sonographic findings and the diagnostic benefit of postnatal cystography

Bladder prolapse through a patent urachus is rare. We present a newborn with an unusual exophytic, erythematous umbilical mass. Voiding cystography readily demonstrated continuity of the bladder dome with the umbilical mass, confirming bladder prolapse through a patent urachus. The diagnosis of bladder prolapse was rapidly made in a second newborn with similar imaging and clinical findings and confirmed by cystography. We discuss the embryology of this condition including the association with a vesico-allantoic cyst in utero. Pre- and postnatal images are presented. The use of cystography in diagnosis is emphasized.