STAGNANT LOOP SYNDROME

 

STAGNANT LOOP SYNDROME

 

DEFINITION:

A malabsorptive disorder characterized by incomplete bowel obstruction resulting in small bowel bacterial overgrowth.

EPIDEMIOLOGY:

  • incidence: ?
  • age of onset:
    • all ages
  • risk factors:
    • incomplete bowel obstruction
      • congenital causes
      • acquired causes
        • postoperative adhesions, longstanding Crohn's
    • Gastrointestinal motility disorders

PATHOGENESIS:

1. Etiology

  • incomplete bowel obstruction impairs intestinal motility or alters the normal intestinal mucosal barrier so that bacteria colonize the upper small bowel. There, the bacteria:
    • deconjugate bile salts -> fat malabsorption -> steatorrhea
    • bind Vitamin B12 -> megaloblastic anemia
    • damage brush border -> decrease disaccharidase activity

CLINICAL FEATURES:

1. Gastrointestinal Manifestations

  • chronic incomplete bowel obstruction
    • distension
    • abdominal pain
    • nausea & vomiting
  • steatorrhea
  • diarrhea

INVESTIGATIONS:

1. For Malabsorption

  • see "Malabsorptive Disorders"

2. Tests for Bacterial Overgrowth

1. Schilling Test

  • load the body with vitamin B12
  • administer *vitamin B12 + intrinsic factor + Antibiotic
  • if > 95% *vitamin B12 in 24 hour urine -> bacterial overgrowth

2. Breath Hydrogen Excretion

  • hydrogen concentration in expired air after an oral dose of sugar (2g/kg body weight to a maximum of 50g) and abnormal if >20 ppm during the first 2 hours

MANAGEMENT:

1. Medications

  • Septra, Clindamycin (broad spectrum with anaerobic coverage)

2. Surgery

  • correct incomplete bowel obstruction

 

 

Pediatric Database - STAGNANT LOOP SYNDROME

Pediatric Organization - Pedbase [at] Gmail.com