Does Ileocecal Resection Affect Children's Medium-Long-Term Growth and Defecation Patterns? A Matched Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background: Ileocecal resection leads to some early complications, but it is unknown whether it affects children's medium-long-term growth and defecation patterns. To determine if there was an association, we conducted this matched case-control study.

Methods: This study was conducted in Beijing Children's Hospital and included three groups: the case group (n = 30) included patients with ileocecal duplication undergoing ileocecal resection between January 2010 and June 2021, the control group (n = 90) included outpatient patients without ileocecal resection in January 2022, and the appendectomy group (n = 90) included patients who underwent appendectomy between January 2010 and June 2021. The 1:1 matching criteria included gender and age (within 1 year). The evaluation indicators were growth (height-for-age, BMI) and defecation patterns (stool frequency, stool consistency) over 6 months after surgery. Defecation patterns were assessed in patients older than 4 years. Stool consistency was evaluated by the modified Bristol Stool Form Scale.

Results: There were no significant differences, except for stool consistency, between the case and control groups regarding their growth and defecation patterns before case-control matching. The patients in the case group had a significantly higher prevalence of dry stool (P < 0.008). After case-control matching, there were no significant differences in the growth and defecation patterns between the case and control groups. Before and after case-control matching, there were no significant differences in the defecation patterns between the control group and the appendectomy group.

Conclusion: Children's medium-long-term growth and defecation patterns were not affected by ileocecal resection.

Keywords: Children; Defecation; Growth; Ileocecal duplication; Ileocecal resection.