Malrotation
In the first two months of life, about 70% of volvulus cases occur, and by the first two years of life, 90% of volvulus cases that are going to occur do occur
epidemiological27:23 ↗
In 20% of cases with true malrotations of the fore and mid-gut, you have a normal barium enema
clinical19:27 ↗
A normal ultrasound does not rule out volvulus, supported by multiple studies
clinical19:44 ↗
Ladd's bands do not cause midgut volvulus
clinicalJack4:02 ↗
Ladd's bands are thought to be an attempt of the body to fuse the cecum to the lateral peritoneal wall
clinicalWit37:16 ↗
The key reason to operate on an asymptomatic patient is to avoid midgut volvulus
clinicalJack3:52 ↗
The critical measurement is the distance between the ligament of Treitz and the ileocecal junction to prevent volvulus, though nobody knows the exact distance required
clinicalJack4:56 ↗
In patients with heterotaxy syndromes who have asymptomatic malrotations and undergo operations, the complication rate is remarkably high, between 30 and 50%
epidemiological16:13 ↗
In a study from Edmonton on heterotaxy patients who underwent procedures for malrotation, the complication rate was about 50%
Host summaryThe host summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position24:59 ↗
In a study by Papillon from Children's LA of about 200 heterotaxy patients, a quarter got screening upper GIs and three quarters did nothing; in 4 years there was only one case of volvulus, and in patients without bilious emesis and symptoms, no cases of volvulus
Host summaryThe host summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position25:12 ↗
In the heterotaxy subgroup, the risk of volvulus in the early period (4-5 years) is actually very low if patients are not symptomatic
epidemiological25:53 ↗
When bowel loops are dilated, this will always give you a low-lying ligament of Treitz
clinicalTodd Ponsky11:53 ↗
Atypical malrotation with a low-lying ligament of Treitz has some data showing lower risk of volvulus, though the data is not strong
clinical16:35 ↗
In patients with rotation abnormalities, reversed mesenteric vessels may or may not be seen; it doesn't definitively indicate malrotation
clinicalJack41:01 ↗
In Jack's series of several hundred patients, there was never a case where the vessels were normal in a patient who had risk for volvulus (narrow base mesentery), so they use it as a screening test in sick patients
clinicalJack41:15 ↗
Upper GI is clearly better than ultrasound for diagnosing malrotation, but in a sick patient who can't get to radiology, ultrasound can be useful
clinicalJack41:54 ↗
Laparoscopic Ladd's procedure can be very effective even in a newborn, though if there's too much twist and no room, conversion to open may be necessary
clinicalTim Kane8:18 ↗
In cardiac patients between first stage and Glenn procedure who get G-tubes, Nissen fundoplication is often requested because they vomit and are too small for PEGs
clinicalTim Kane14:42 ↗
A 45-minute Nissen at pressures of 8 is tolerated by cardiac patients between stages
clinicalTim Kane14:56 ↗
In a published study combining experience with Kansas City, the cardiac risk group did not stratify out to be at higher risk for reflux complications; neurologically impaired CP kids maybe, but not cardiac kids
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position15:15 ↗
Yama does not operate on asymptomatic malrotation as long as the patient has non-bilious vomiting, is gaining weight, and is clinically well
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing the discussion — not the host's own clinical position35:20 ↗
If a patient has a narrow pedicle, the patient always has vomiting and is symptomatic
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position36:16 ↗
Ladd's bands themselves are not risky; the risk is bilious vomiting and narrowing of the pedicle
Host summaryTodd Ponsky summarizing a resource — not the host's own clinical position36:39 ↗
In situs inversus or ambiguous cases, measuring the distance between ligament of Treitz and ileocecal junction matters regardless of where the bowels are; if less than half the diameter of the abdominal cavity, intervention is needed
clinicalJack39:27 ↗
Malrotation with Dr. Meera Kotagal
Malrotation occurs in about 1 in 200 to 500 live births.
Host summaryEm Tombash summarizes what Dr. Meera Kotagal said — not the host's own clinical position0:28 ↗
In the fourth week of gestation, bowel development begins, and as the bowel grows in length it herniates into the yolk sac along the umbilical cord and SMA axis.
clinicalMeera Kotagal1:17 ↗
Normal rotation involves a 90-degree rotation of the duodenal-jejunal loop, then return of bowel with 270-degree rotation of cecum and colon, resulting in duodenal-jejunal junction to the left of midline at ligament of Treitz and cecum in right lower quadrant.
clinicalMeera Kotagal1:44 ↗
Intestinal rotation abnormalities fall along a spectrum rather than being simply normal or abnormal, including both non-rotation and malrotation.
clinicalMeera Kotagal2:22 ↗
In non-rotation, the gut returns without rotating, resulting in colon on the left and small bowel on the right, without the problematic Ladd bands that cause obstruction in malrotation.
clinicalMeera Kotagal2:22 ↗
Non-rotation anatomy looks similar to the anatomy of a malrotated patient post-Ladd procedure.
clinicalMeera Kotagal2:22 ↗