Is There a Need for Bowel Management after Surgery for Isolated Intestinal Malrotation in Children?

Purpose: Few studies have reported non-acute long-term morbidity rates in children with intestinal malrotation. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of constipation in children undergoing Ladd's procedure for isolated intestinal malrotation. Methods: This retrospective study included children aged <15 years who underwent Ladd's procedure for intestinal malrotation between 2001 and 2016. Demographics, presence of volvulus perioperatively, need for bowel resection, short term (<30 days) and long-term complications, including mortality were recorded. Constipation was defined as treatment with laxatives at 1-year follow-up. Results: Of the 43 children included in the study, 49% were boys. The median age at surgery was 28 days (0-5, 293 days). Volvulus occurred in 26 children (60.5%), and bowel resection was required in 4 children (9.3%). Short-term complications categorized as grades II-V according to the Clavien-Dindo classification occurred in 13 children (30.2%). Of these, 5 children (11.6%) required re-operation. Constipation was observed in 9 children (23.7%) at the 1-year follow-up. No difference was observed in the rate of perioperative volvulus between children with and without constipation (44% vs. 65%, p=0.45). Excluding re-operations performed within 30 days after surgery, 3 children (6%) underwent surgery for intestinal obstruction during the study period. Conclusion: Many children undergoing Ladd's procedure require bowel management even at long-term follow-up, probably secondary to constipation. It is important to thoroughly evaluate bowel function at the time of follow-up to verify or exclude constipation, and if treatment of constipation is unsuccessful, these children require evaluation for dysmotility disorders and/or intestinal neuronal dysplasia.