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Biomedical subjects

I M Irving

Publications and source records attributed to I M Irving.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Does fetal gut obstruction cause hydramnios and growth retardation?

In order to study the effects of impaired fetal intestinal absorption of amniotic fluid, two series of neonates (551 from Liverpool and 172 from Rome) with different types of congenital gut obstruction were divided into two groups and compared. Group A consisted of patients with complete obstruction at or above the proximal jejunum (within 15 cm of the ligament of Treitz). Patients of group B had either incomplete obstruction at group A level or either incomplete or complete obstruction at a lower level. Maternal hydramnios and fetal growth retardation rates were found to be significantly higher in group A than in group B. Maternal hydramnios was associated with an increased prematurity rate (P less than .001). Fetal growth retardation was not related to the presence of additional anomalies. In group A growth retardation was more frequent in babies born after 37 weeks of gestation (P less than .05). No differences were found between the Liverpool and Rome series of patients. These findings suggest that fetal gut function not only contributes to the control of amniotic fluid volume but also, in the final stages of pregnancy, to normal fetal growth. Maternal hydramnios may be the cause of premature delivery of fetuses with upper gut obstructions.

Birth Weight↗

Prune belly syndrome associated with exomphalos and anorectal agenesis.

We have recently treated a child with prune belly syndrome in association with exomphalos and anorectal agenesis. This case raises the total incidence of exomphalos and anorectal agenesis to four and five, respectively, in our series of 13 cases of prune belly syndrome. Our case report lays emphasis on the severe respiratory problems that can complicate surgery in prune belly patients. We also attempt to relate the pattern of anomalies in our series to the controversy surrounding the embryogenesis of prune belly syndrome and suggest that our case material lends support to the concept of prune belly syndrome being due to an early disturbance of mesodermal development in both the abdominal wall and the urinary tract. We also suggest that the reported occurrence of gastroschisis in association with prune belly syndrome adds weight to the unifying theory of the embryogenesis of gastroschisis and exomphalos.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Acute pancreatitis in children.

Twenty-nine children with acute pancreatitis were managed during the period 1971 to 1983. Aetiology included trauma (5), mumps (5), drug therapy (4), biliary disease (1), and cystic fibrosis (1); 13 cases were classified as idiopathic. Diagnosis could be difficult, and unnecessary laparotomies were performed in 7 instances for suspected appendicitis. One patient, however, had a well-justified laparotomy revealing coexisting severe appendicitis and pancreatitis. Morbidity included relapses (7), pseudocysts (3), obstructive duodenal hematoma (1), and miscellaneous problems (4). Improvements in management included endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) to exclude anatomical anomalies in relapsing cases, ultrasonography for the diagnosis of pseudocysts and for follow-up measurements in two such cases successfully managed conservatively, and increasing use of total parenteral nutrition in cases with protracted disease or serious complications.

Acute Disease↗

Endoscopic diathermy obliteration of recurrent tracheoesophageal fistulae.

Recurrence of tracheoesophageal fistula after surgical repair for esophageal atresia occurs in approximately 5% to 15% of cases. Further surgery may be hazardous and mortality rates of up to 50% have been reported. We report two patients in whom successful obliteration of a recurrent fistula has been achieved by diathermy at bronchoscopy. This experience is compared to previous reports of fistula obliteration using tissue adhesives.

Bronchoscopy↗

Annular pancreas in a fetus and its three-dimensional reconstruction.

A three-dimensional 50-times scale reconstruction was made of an annular pancreas from an 18-week-old fetus. By the use of radio-opaque paint, the anatomy of the pancreaticobiliary system within the reconstructed duodenum was clearly revealed. The anatomical arrangement indicated that the annulus was formed from the ventral anlage of the pancreas and that part of the annulus intermingled with the duodenal wall. These findings are consistent with Lecco 's theory of the embryogenesis of annular pancreas. The visualisation of internal structures in a reconstruction by the use of radio-opaque paint has not been described previously. This could be a useful technique in other embryological studies of the continuity of microscopic internal structures. Annular pancreas has been described previously by Weissberg in a 16-mm embryo. This report is the second case of a fetal annular pancreas in the literature.

Duodenum↗

Massive adrenal hemorrhage in neonatal neuroblastoma.

In a neonate with exsanguinating intraperitoneal bleeding admitted with a provisional diagnosis of ruptured liver due to birth trauma, laparotomy revealed the source of hemorrhage to be an adrenal neuroblastoma. This case prompted a review of cases of abdominal neuroblastoma admitted to the Neonatal Surgical Unit in Alder Hey Children's Hospital from 1953 to 1976. The features of 10 cases are presented: in three of them there was hemorrhage into the tumor. Of the 10 cases, six survived tumor free from 2 to 12 yr and there is one short-term survivor. The purpose of this presentation is to emphasize the possibility of an underlying neuroblastoma in cases of neonatal adrenal hemorrhage and also the relatively good prognosis in neuroblastoma presenting in the neonatal period.

Adolescent↗

Segmental dilatation of the ileum.

Three new cases of congenital segmental dilatation of the ileum are presented and added to 12 cases of segmental dilatation found in the literature. The aspect of the condition which is of particular interest is the presence in 3 of the dilated segments of heteroplastic foregut derivatives of unusual varieties. The etiology of the condition is discussed; it does not appear to be a single distinct pathological entity.

Adult↗