Surgical management of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in infancy and childhood.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is an uncommon cause of repeated obstruction in children of undetermined etiology, often leading to repeated laparotomies and early death. TPN combined with venting gastrostomy provides sufficient calories for growth and minimizes the need for operations and/or hospitalizations. Seventeen children managed with these techniques experienced a sixfold decrease in the number of hospitalizations, and more than a tenfold decrease in the number of laparotomies for obstruction compared to the period before routine use of TPN and gastrostomies. Oral feedings are encouraged whenever possible.