Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of neonates with duodenal obstruction associated with an annular pancreas: report of 11 cases

Purpose: Laparoscopic procedures involving a neonatal annular pancreas have only been sporadically reported in the literature. We herein present our initial experience with an annular pancreas in newborns treated via a laparoscopic approach. Methods: A retrospective review of the laparoscopic methods used for an annular pancreas in 11 neonates from September 2009 to April 2013 was performed. Among the patients, seven were male and four were female. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 13 days (mean 4.2 days). An annular pancreas was diagnosed under laparoscopic vision. In all of the cases, the surgical procedures were performed laparoscopically. Results: The operation was accomplished by a laparoscopic procedure in all cases. The length of the operation ranged from 70 to 145 min (mean, 96.6 min). Feedings started on postoperative days 4–7 (mean, day 5), and patients were discharged on postoperative days 9–15 (mean, day 10.6). Ten cases were followed up for 4–39 months (mean, 15.2 months). The case complicated with anal atresia died of pneumonia 6 months later after the procedure, but the other patients were doing well at the most recent follow-up examination. Conclusion: The laparoscopic approach for an annular pancreas can be securely performed in the neonatal period. Our early experience suggests the outcomes were excellent.