What is intestinal malrotation, and how could it affect your kids?
As a parent, you have a number of concerns about your kids. From the boo-boos on their knees to their runny noses, you have some outward signs that all is not well with your little one’s body. It’s not pleasant to think that there may also be signs that you can’t see. That’s where we come in! We can help you diagnose and treat health complications like intestinal malrotation, which affects one in every 500 infants born in the United States, to keep your kids happy and healthy.
What is intestinal malrotation? This condition occurs due to issues with your child’s intestinal development as a fetus. Specifically, you’ll see this issue when one of the normal steps the intestine follows is missed. The result is a portion of the intestine settling into the wrong part of the abdomen, creating blockage or twisting.
Intestinal malrotation will not always affect your child right away. Sometimes symptoms don’t develop until teen years, or even adulthood. Symptoms of this malrotation include tenderness or swelling the abdomen, vomiting a dark green fluid, blood in the stool, and difficulty with normal bowel movements.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, don’t be alarmed! The experts at Pediatric Surgical Association can diagnose and treat your child. Some of the tests we can use are an x-ray of the abdominal area and a barium swallow/upper GI test. The latter allows us to check the intestines for abnormalities.
If we do discover intestinal malrotation, we have a number of different treatments available at our California facility. Our staff of Orange County pediatric surgeons are experts at untwisting/unblocking the intestine and restoring blood supply as needed. If you believe your child may be suffering from intestinal malrotation, contact us to discuss the best options for him or her. Pediatric Surgical Associates is here to help your child be as healthy and happy as possible!