OBJECTIVE: In pediatric patients with intestinal failure (IF) due to short bowel syndrome, we hypothesized that young children, those with shorter residual small bowel and those with congenital malrotation of the bowel would be more likely to undergo pan-enteroscopy. We aimed to determine the feasibility and diagnostic yield of pan-enteroscopy in this cohort.
METHODS: We performed a single-center, retrospective study of pediatric patients with IF due to short bowel syndrome (SBS) who had undergone at least one GI endoscopic evaluation between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2023.
RESULTS: A pan-enteroscopy might have been possible in 381 of the 431 procedures (206 patients) reviewed. 44 (21%) patients underwent 54 pan-enteroscopies. Children with a residual bowel length <35 cm had higher odds of undergoing pan-enteroscopy (odds ratio [OR] 3.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.32, 10.48], p = 0.01), as did patients with periprocedural glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) analog use (OR 4.30, 95% CI [1.24, 14.95], p = 0.02). Patients with diagnoses other than necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) tended to be more likely to achieve a pan-enteroscopy (OR 2.73, 95% CI [0.95,7.88], p = 0.06). Evidence of gross and histopathologic abnormalities were found in 77.8% and 78% of the procedures, respectively. No complications were identified.
CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of children with SBS, pan-enteroscopy was successfully performed in 14.2% of the procedures and microscopic abnormalities were common. Shorter residual bowel length, underlying diagnoses of non-NEC, and GLP-2 analog use were generally associated with successful pan-enteroscopy, independent of age and several other factors. These data suggest that pan-enteroscopy is feasible and of high-yield in a subset of patients with SBS.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with intestinal failure (IF) have abnormal intestinal anatomy, secretion, and dysmotility, which impairs intestinal homeostatic mechanisms and may lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of SIBO in patients with IF and to identify risk factors for SIBO.
METHODS: MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2023 for studies that reported the prevalence of SIBO in IF. The prevalence rates, odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence intervals of SIBO in IF and the risk factors for SIBO in IF were calculated using random effects model.
RESULTS: Final dataset included nine studies reporting on 407 patients with IF. The prevalence of SIBO in IF was 57.5% (95% CI 44.6-69.4), with substantial heterogeneity in this analysis (I2 = 80.9, P = 0.0001). SIBO prevalence was sixfold higher in patients with IF who received parenteral nutrition (PN) compared with IF patients not on PN (OR = 6.0, 95% CI 3.0-11.9, P = 0.0001). Overall, the prevalence of SIBO in patients with IF using PPI/acid-suppressing agents (72.0%, 95% CI 57.5-83.8) was numerically higher compared with IF patients not using these agents (47.6%, 95% CI 25.7-70.2).
CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that there is an increased risk of SIBO in patients with IF and that PN, and potentially, the use of PPI/acid-suppressing agents is risk factors for SIBO development in patients with IF. However, the quality of evidence is low and can be attributed to lack of case-control studies and clinical heterogeneity seen in the studies.

BACKGROUND: Gastroschisis and omphalocele are the most common congenital abdominal wall defects. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, other associated anomalies and the course of these diseases in Iceland.
METHODS: The study was retrospective. The population was all newborns who were admitted to the NICU of Children\'s Hospital Iceland due to gastroschisis or omphalocele in 1991-2020. Furthermore, all fetuses diagnosed prenatally or post mortem where the pregnancy ended in spontaneous or induced abortion, were included.
RESULTS: During the study period, 54 infants were born with gastroschisis and five with omphalocele. The incidence of gastroschisis was 4.11 and omphalocele 0,38/10,000 births. There was no significant change in the incidence of the diseases during the study period. In addition, five fetuses were diagnosed with gastroschisis and 31 with omphalocele where the pregnancy was terminated. In addition to gastroschisis in the live born infants and fetuses the most common associated anomalies were in the gastrointestinal or urinary tract but in infants and fetuses with omphalocele anomalies of the cardiac, central nervous or skeletal systems were the most common. Sixteen fetuses diagnosed with omphalocele had trisomy 18. Mothers aged 16-20 were more likely to give birth to an infant with gastroschisis than older mothers (p< 0.001). Primary closure was successful in 86% of the infants. Those reached full feedings significantly earlier and were discharged earlier. Overall survival rate was 95%. Three children were still receiving parenteral nutrition at discharge due to short bowel syndrome.
CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of gastroschisis in Iceland is in accordance with studies in other countries but but the incidence of omphalocele is lower, which can be partly explained by spontaneous or induced abortions. Other anomalies associated with omphalocele are more severe than those associated with gastroschisis. Primary closure was associated with more benign course. Children with gastroschisis may need prolonged parenteral nutrition due to shortening of their intestines.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known to provoke a state of hypercoagulability that may lead to devastating consequences. This has been well established since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2019; however, the specific relationship between COVID-19 and thrombus formation remains poorly understood. There has been increasing documentation of gastrointestinal (GI) complications in patients infected with the virus, including potentially lethal acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI), regardless of prior history of GI disease or risk factors for hypercoagulable states. Not only is mesenteric ischemia difficult to diagnose but it is also associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, warranting prompt identification and treatment to improve clinical outcomes. We herein present a case of diffuse intestinal necrosis secondary to mesenteric thrombus formation in a previously healthy female five days after the resolution of her COVID-19 symptoms. The high rates of morbidity and mortality linked to AMI underpin the need for clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for thrombotic complications of COVID, even in healthy patients. This case emphasizes the importance of a thorough history-taking, physical examination, and laboratory workup even in patients without a current COVID-19 infection or predisposing thrombotic risk factors. Additionally, it suggests that the hypercoagulable state associated with a COVID-19 infection may persist after the primary COVID-19 symptoms have resolved.

Anastomotic ulceration is a known complication of short gut syndrome, which can be complicated by concurrent iron deficiency and chronic bleeding. Diagnosis is confirmed through endoscopy, typically performed for the investigation of severe anemia. Inflammatory colitis in short gut syndrome has been previously reported; therefore, it is important to treat both ulceration and inflammation. Currently, no effective therapies are available. Herein, we describe the case of a child with short gut syndrome who subsequently developed anastomotic ulcers with recurrent severe bleeding and was successfully treated with endoscopic argon plasma cauterization for circumferential ulcerations, followed by a prolonged course of oral enteric budesonide. This intervention could be a potential and beneficial nonsurgical treatment for anastomotic ulceration.

Gastric stimulator has been used as a surgical option for patients with gastroparesis refractory to medical management. Only one previous report of small bowel gangrene secondary to gastric pacemaker wires has been reported in the literature. Our patient was a 38-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and history of total colectomy who underwent an uneventful open gastric pacemaker placement for idiopathic gastroparesis. Four months after the initial placement of the pacemaker, she presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain and was found to have gangrene of 140 cm of small bowel secondary to looping of gastric pacemaker wires around small bowel mesentery. She underwent uneventful small bowel resection and anastomosis with an ileorectal anastomosis. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion for this catastrophic complication in patients with gastric pacemakers.

Paraduonenal hernia constitutes more than 50% of internal hernia cases. It can result in perilous sequelae like gut ischemia and perforation. We report a case of a patient who presented with acute intestinal obstruction and peritonitis and was diagnosed as a case of complicated paraduodenal as an incidental finding on laparotomy.  A 26-year-old male patient presented with three days history of continuous severe incapacitating diffuse abdominal pain. The pain was associated with multiple episodes of bilious vomiting and absolute constipation. Patient had signs and symptoms of shock. Abdomen examination showed generalized peritonitis. Patient had deranged laboratory investigations. Abdominal X-ray showed acute intestinal obstruction. Patient was resuscitated and taken up for emergency laparotomy. Intraoperatively there was a long segment of gangrenous small bowel entrapped in the paraduodenal sac. Gangrenous gut was released from the sac and excised with proximal and distal ends fashioned as stoma through separate sites. Patient was managed with intravenous fluids with total parental nutrition. Patient gradually started on oral diet and jejunostomy output was refed through the distal stoma. Patient was discharged on postoperative day 14. Patient had uneventful early stoma closure at postoperative day 45 and now is on regular follow-up in the outdoor department. Paraduodenal hernias are one of the rare causes of intestinal obstruction that is difficult to diagnose. Radiologic investigation like abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan can aid in diagnosis of paraduodenal hernia. Surgeons should have clear knowledge about abnormal anatomy of internal hernias and complications they can face during surgery.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a chronic disease whose natural history requires a changing array of management strategies over time. Chief amongst these is the chronic use of parenteral nutrition (PN) to ensure adequate nutritional intake. With time and appropriate management, approximately half of all SBS patients will successfully regain a functional, baseline level of intrinsic bowel function that will allow for them to achieve PN independence. However, the other half of SBS patients will progress into chronic intestinal failure which warrants a change in therapy to include more aggressive medical and potentially surgical measures. This review examines the evolving treatment strategies involved in the management of SBS as well as intestinal failure.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effects of a reversed segment of the distal small intestine to improve weight gain in an experimental short bowel syndrome (SBS) model in piglets.
METHODS: Twenty-four piglets underwent resection of 70% of the distal small intestine. In half of the animals a conventional anastomosis was performed, and in the other half, the distal 25 cm of the remnant jejunum was reversed before the intestinal continuity was recreated. Weight was measured daily until day 28, where the animals were euthanized. Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 (GLP-2) and Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Peptide (GIP) was measured pre- and postoperatively at day 28.
RESULTS: The group with reversal of small intestine had a significant lower weight gain at 5.26 ± 3.39 kg (mean ± SD) compared to the control group with 11.14 ± 3.83 kg (p < 0.05). In the control group greater villus height and crypt depth was found distally, and greater muscular thickness was found proximally in the intervention group. GLP-2 and GIP levels increased significantly in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of short bowel syndrome with a reversed jejunal segment of 25 cm had a detrimental effect on the weight gain.

Central line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) in infants and children with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome may be caused by different organisms due to intestinal translocation and skin contamination. We report what we believe the first case of candidemia in an infant with short bowel syndrome caused by the environmental yeast Candida sojae that was initially misidentified as Candida tropicalis. We discuss its possible sources including a central venous catheter (CVC) and gut translocation and the differences between the two Candida species.