Gastrointestinal Duplications: A Decade's Experience.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Congenital Malformations
• Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) duplications are uncommon congenital anomalies with varied clinical presentations.
• These malformations typically manifest in early childhood, particularly within the first two years of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the experience with gastrointestinal duplications (cysts) at a tertiary pediatric surgery center.
• To analyze the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of pediatric GI duplications.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study was conducted.
• Data from 32 pediatric patients diagnosed with GI duplications between 2012 and 2022 were analyzed.
• Patient demographics, clinical presentation, radiological findings, surgical management, and outcomes were reviewed.

Main Results:

• Thirty-two cases of GI duplication were identified, with a slight male predominance (M:F ≈ 4:3).
• The majority of patients (81.25%) were under two years old, with 46.88% presenting neonatally.
• The ileum was the most frequent location (17 cases), followed by the gallbladder (6 cases). Common associated pathologies included intussusception (6 cases) and intestinal atresia (5 cases).
• Favorable outcomes were observed in 75% of the cases.

Conclusions:

• GI duplications present diversely based on location, size, and associated complications.
• Clinical suspicion and accurate radiological evaluation are crucial for early diagnosis to prevent complications.
• Management strategies should be tailored to the specific type of duplication and its relationship with the gastrointestinal tract.