Home | Volume 28 | Article number 210

Original article

Pyloric atresia: a challenge in an underdeveloped country

Pyloric atresia: a challenge in an underdeveloped country

Aloise Sagna1, Ndeye Aby Ndoye1, Cheikh Diouf 2, Papa Alassane Mbaye1, Mbaye Fall 3, Azhar Salim Mohamed 4,&, Oumar Ndour3, Gabriel Ngom1

 

1Service de Chirurgie Pédiatrique, Hôpital d’Enfants Albert Royer, Dakar, Sénégal, 2Service de Chirurgie, Hôpital Régional de Ziguinchor, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor, Sénégal, 3Service de Chirurgie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec, Dakar, Sénégal, 4Centre de Santé des HLM de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal

 

 

&Corresponding author
Azhar Salim Mohamed, Centre de Santé des HLM de Dakar, Dakar, Sénégal

 

 

Abstract

Pyloric atresia is a rare congenital malformation. We report a case in a 5-day newborn with pyloric atresia type C. Authors emphasize the diagnostic difficulties and therapeutic challenges in a resource-limited country.

 

 

Introduction    Down

Pyloric atresia (PA) is a rare congenital malformation. Accounting for less than 1% of gastro-intestinal atresia [1]. It is often isolated but may be associated with other malformations making the prognosis bad [2]. The diagnosis is suspected on the presence of non-bilious vomiting and a single gastric air bubble on abdominal X-ray. The treatment depends on the type of PA. The diagnosis of PA can be difficult and the treatment is a challenge in an area with limited resources. We report a case of pyloric atresia type C in a baby with an emphasis on diagnosis and therapeutic difficulties in an underdeveloped country.

 

 

Patient and observation Up    Down

A 5-day-old male weighing 1700g with a normal delivery was sent to our department for the suspicion of duodenal atresia. The newborn presented non-bilious vomiting since birth and never emitted meconium. Clinical examination found a poor general condition, a trisomic facies, a weight to 1600g and a plat abdomen. Biological check-up was normal. An abdominal X-ray showed a single bubble gastric air with no gas beyond (Figure 1). A second abdominal X-ray performed two days later showed a double bubble air without a distal aeration (Figure 2). Abdominal ultrasound was normal. The diagnosis evoked were PA and duodenal atresia. The laparotomy revelated a type C pyloric atresia with an important gap between the stomach and the duodenum (Figure 3). A duodenogastrostomy was performed and a transanastomotic naso-duodenal tube was placed. One day after surgery the newborn is fed by the nasoduodenal tube. On the 12th post-operative day, this tube was removed and oral feeding is started. The baby comes out of the hospital on day 16 post-operative with a weight of 2450g. He was asymptomatic after a follow up of one year.

 

 

Discussion Up    Down

The diagnosis of PA requires a high index of suspicion because of its rarity. Despite of its specific symptoms, confusion with duodenal atresia is frequent [3]. In our observation, we evoked respectively PA and duodenal atresia based on the presence of a single bubble air and two bubbles air on abdominal X-ray. Double bubble air is described in the PA [4]. It is either linked of a pyloric membrane into the duodenum or to a reflecting configuration of the distend stomach [1, 5]. In our case this is probably the second situation, the baby having a type C of pyloric atresia. We performed duodeno-gastrostomy as recommended in type C and placed a trans anastomotic naso-duodenal tube to feed the baby very early, his general condition being bad with a low weigh before surgery. This tube is an alternative to parenteral nutrition that is not available in our hospital. It has improved the nutritional status of the baby before the beginning of oral feeding.

 

 

Conclusion Up    Down

A single gastric bubble air evokes strongly PA. However a diagnosis confusion may arise when a double bubble air appears in the same patient within a few days. For type C of PA, duodenogastrostomy with a trans-anastomotic naso-duodenal tube can be an alternative for a team that does not have parenteral nutrition because it allows to feed the baby very early and improves its general condition.

 

 

Competing interests Up    Down

The authors declare no competing interests.

 

 

Authors’ contributions Up    Down

All authors participated in the preparation of the manuscript. Gabriel Ngom corrected the manuscript scientifically. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

 

 

Figures Up    Down

Figure 1: single bubble sign

Figure 2: double bubble sign

Figure 3: per operatory view showing the gap between the stomach and the duodenum

 

 

References Up    Down

  1. Müller M, Morger R, Engert J. Pyloric atresia: report of four cases and review of the literature. Pediatr Surg Int. 1990; 5(4): 276-279. Google Scholar

  2. Ilce Z, Erdogan E, Kara C, Celayir S, Sarimurat N, Senyüz OF et al. Pyloric atresia: 15-year review from a single institution. J Pediatr Surg. 2003 Nov; 38(11): 1581-4. PubMed | Google Scholar

  3. Mboyo A, Clermidi P, Podevin G, Patkowski D, Baglaj M, Gerus S et al. Neonatal gastric outlet obstruction by isolated pyloric atresia, an often forgotten diagnosis. Acta Chir Belg. 2016 Apr; 116(2): 89-95. PubMed | Google Scholar

  4. Parshotam G, Ahmed S, Gollow I. Single or double bubble: sign of trouble! Congenital pyloric atresia: report of two cases and review of literature. J Paediatr Child Health. 2007 Jun; 43(6): 502-3. PubMed | Google Scholar

  5. Yoshizato T, Satoh S, Taguchi T, Suita S, Nakano H. Intermittent 'double bubble' sign in a case of congenital pyloric atresia. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2002 Nov-Dec; 17(6): 334-8. PubMed | Google Scholar