Treating neonatal intestinal obstruction with ostomy in continuity: a single-center comparative study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Neonatal Care
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Neonatal intestinal obstruction lacks a consensus on optimal surgical treatment.
• Various surgical modalities exist, necessitating comparative efficacy studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of ostomy in continuity (OIC).
• To provide a surgical reference for treating neonatal intestinal obstruction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 46 neonates with intestinal obstruction (atresia, NEC, meconium ileus, volvulus).
• Comparison between the OIC group (18 patients) and a control group (28 patients) undergoing other enterostomy procedures.
• Evaluation of general information, perioperative, and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• The OIC group showed a shorter duration of parenteral nutrition (P=0.02).
• The OIC group had a shorter interval between stoma creation and closure (P=0.02) and shorter stoma closure surgery duration (P<0.001).
• Fewer postoperative complications (P<0.001) and better weight-for-age Z-scores (P=0.01) were observed in the OIC group.

Conclusions:

• Ostomy in continuity (OIC) is effective for neonatal intestinal obstruction.
• OIC improves neonates' nutritional status and maintains intestinal continuity.
• OIC shortens the overall treatment interval, from stoma creation to closure.