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Mesenteric cysts in infancy and childhood
Insights
Mesenteric cysts in children can cause serious complications like peritonitis. Surgical resection offers an excellent long-term prognosis for these rare gastrointestinal malformations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Malformations
- Abdominal Surgery
Background:
- Mesenteric cysts are rare congenital anomalies.
- They can present with vague or acute abdominal symptoms.
- Complications include obstruction, perforation, and torsion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of mesenteric cysts in infants and children.
- To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and surgical intervention.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 11 pediatric patients diagnosed with mesenteric cysts.
- Analysis of clinical findings, surgical procedures, and postoperative follow-up.
Main Results:
- Seven boys and four girls were treated for mesenteric cysts.
- Common presentations included abdominal distention, pain, vomiting, and palpable masses.
- Two patients presented with peritonitis, one in shock, due to volvulus with perforation and infarction.
- Surgical management involved cyst excision with small bowel resection and anastomosis in seven patients, and simple enucleation in four.
- All patients survived without short- or long-term complications or recurrence.
Conclusions:
- Mesenteric cysts, though rare, can lead to life-threatening complications in children.
- Prompt surgical management, including complete excision, is crucial for favorable outcomes.
- Early recognition and intervention are associated with an excellent long-term prognosis.
Abstract:
Of 11 infants and children with mesenteric cysts, seven patients were boys and four, girls. Clinical findings included abdominal distention, pain and vomiting in seven patients, while a movable abdominal mass was noted in four. Two patients presented with peritonitis and one patient, in a state of shock. All patients underwent laparotomy-seven as an emergency procedure. Volvulus with perforation and infarction was noted in the two patients uith peritonitis. Excision of the cyst required resection of the small intestine and end-to-end anastomosis in seven patients, while simple enucleation was possible in four. All 11 patients survived, and there have been neither subsequent complications nor recurrences. Early recognition and appropriate resection of these benign, but occasionally life-threatening, malformations is associated with an excellent long term prognosis.