Dolichocolon Presenting with Bilateral Hydronephrosis in a Neonate

Laura Gielen; Anke Raaijmakers; Bert De Groote; Eva Ter Haar

doi:10.1155/2021/6658525

Dolichocolon Presenting with Bilateral Hydronephrosis in a Neonate

Case Rep Pediatr. 2021 Mar 19:2021:6658525. doi: 10.1155/2021/6658525. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Laura Gielen^{1

2}, Anke Raaijmakers^{2

3}, Bert De Groote², Eva Ter Haar^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ University of Antwerp, Department of Pediatrics, Antwerp, Belgium.
² Department of Pediatrics, Hospitals ZNA Jan Palfijn, Merksem, Belgium.
³ University of Leuven, Department of Pediatrics, Leuven, Belgium.

Abstract

Background: Dolichocolon is an inborn anatomic variant of the colon with redundancies often causing constipation and/or volvulus presenting in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of dolichocolon presenting in infancy with constipation and bilateral hydronephrosis. Case Presentation. A nineteen-day-old neonate presented to the emergency department with severe constipation and discomfort. During his admission, he developed pyelonephritis, and subsequent ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder showed bilateral hydroureteronephrosis. A barium enema was performed and it showed a dolichocolon. Enemas and lactulose were initiated with good effect on both the constipation as well as the hydronephrosis.

Conclusions: Dolichocolon in a neonate can cause severe constipation which could also lead to an obstructive nephropathy if untreated. Monitoring of urine flow might be indicated when a neonate presents with severe constipation.

Publication types

Case Reports