[Clinical analysis of annular pancreas in neonates]

To analyze clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of annular pancreas in neonates.

Clinical data of 114 neonates with annular pancreas admitted in the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University from January 2009 to December 2018 were reviewed. The demographic parameters (gestational age, birth weight), clinical manifestations, onset time, results of antenatal examination, associated anomalies, radiological findings, operations, postoperative complications were analyzed.

One hundred and two cases were examined by abdominal echography, in which 68 cases showed duodenal obstruction, 4 cases showed annular pancreas. Plain abdomen X-ray examination performed in 113 cases before operation, 76 cases presented double-bubble sign, 12 cases presented single-bubble sign and 5 cases had high-position intestinal obstruction. Upper gastrointestinal radiography (UGI) was performed in 103 cases, which suggested duodenal obstruction in 102 cases. Operations were performed in all cases, of which 69 cases were operated under laparoscopy including 1 case converted to open laparotomy. The mean fasting time after surgery was (7.8±2.7) d, and the mean length of hospital stay was (16.9±10.1) d. Five patients had postoperative complications. The incidence of postoperative complications in antenatal abnormal group was lower than that in the antenatal non-abnormal group (P<0.05); the average fasting time in laparoendscopic surgery group was shorter than that in traditional laparotomy group (P<0.05).

Neonates with recurrent vomiting early after birth should be highly suspected to have annular pancreas. The fetal chromosome examination should be performed with abnormal antenatal screening. Surgery is the only effective way to diagnose and treat annular pancreas, and laparoscopic surgery could be the first choice for experienced doctors.