Ho Chi Minh City – 19-month-old Thanh, who was on vacation in Vung Tau with her family, suddenly experienced abdominal pain and bloody stools. Doctors discovered she had a double bowel syndrome with hemorrhagic complications.
On April 29th, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son Vu, a specialist in Pediatrics at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, reported that a baby girl was admitted to the emergency room with slightly pale skin, fever, and fatigue. A cyst measuring 2x4 cm was found in the right iliac fossa of her abdomen, within the large intestine.
"This is a congenital intestinal anomaly, also known as a duplication cyst, and the only treatment is surgery to avoid complications," said Dr. Vu. The surgical team performed a laparoscopic procedure to remove the tumor and suture the intestine. Three days after the surgery, the child recovered and was discharged from the hospital.
Doctor Vu examines baby Thanh before discharge. Photo: Tue Diem.
Dr. Vu believes that Thanh was fortunate to arrive at the hospital early and receive timely treatment. If the disease had been detected later, the child could have suffered complications such as intestinal torsion, intussusception, recurrent bleeding, and a risk of malignancy.
Intestinal duplication can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the colon and rectum, but is most commonly found in the intestine. These duplicating cysts are composed of epithelial tissue, smooth muscle, and a lining resembling a digestive tract. Congenital cysts, formed during fetal development, can grow larger over time.
According to Dr. Vu, this birth defect occurs in 1 in 4,500 children. Approximately 25-30% of cases can be detected early during routine prenatal checkups.
When Thanh was still a fetus at 22 weeks, an ultrasound revealed this birth defect. However, after birth, she was healthy and normal, so the family did not monitor her further.
Congenital bowel duplication is asymptomatic but silently increases in size. At this stage, children often show signs such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, or blood in the stool, slow weight gain, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
From the beginning of 2024 until now, the Pediatrics Department of Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has performed approximately 30 emergency surgeries for children experiencing health problems while traveling , such as appendicitis, ovarian torsion, testicular torsion, inguinal hernia, intestinal obstruction, and gastric perforation due to Helicobacter pylori (HP) virus.
To ensure children's health, parents should have their children undergo a general check-up before departure. Families traveling for extended periods, or going abroad, should research the nearest hospitals to be prepared for any potential problems.
For children with congenital conditions that do not yet require intervention, Dr. Vu advises parents to have their children checked regularly to assess their health status and intervene early if any abnormalities are detected.
Tue Diem
*The patient's name has been changed.
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