Long-term results of treatment of newborns and infants with necrosis and perforation of the stomach and duodenum
INTRODUCTION: Necrosis and perforation of the stomach and /or duodenum in newborns and infants is a rare but severe disease with high mortality. There are many theories about the etiology and pathogenesis of the necrosis and perforation of the stomach and duodenum in children of this age. Various treatment options are described, but neither foreign nor Russian publications have assessed the long-term results of the treatment of patients with perforation of the stomach and duodenum during the first year of life and the quality of their life. AIM: This study aimed to analyze the results of treatment of newborns and infants with perforation of the stomach and duodenum and to assess their long-term quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analyzes the long-term results of treatment of 21 children, aged 212 yrs, with perforation of the stomach and duodenum. The volumetric evacuation function of the stomach and duodenum and the childs nutritional status were assessed. A survey of patients and their parents was also carried out to assess the quality of life of the child using questionnaires from the EuroQol Research Foundation version EQ5D-Y. RESULTS: The volumetric evacuation function of the stomach and duodenum recovered completely. The nutritional status of 16 (76%) children corresponds to their age. According to the results of the analysis of the questionnaire of the quality of life, eight patients aged 8 yrs and 15 parents consider the health profile of children as the best (71%), the parents of one patient assess the health profile of their child as satisfactory, and five mothers of children with neurological deficits rated as unsatisfactory. CONCLUSION: Owing to the high adaptation capacity of the newborn and infants of the first year of life, most of the examined patients have a good quality of life and a normal nutritional status. The volumetric evacuation function of the stomach and duodenum recovered in all patients within 13 yrs after surgery.