Retrospective Analysis of Intestinal Obstruction in Children in theJharkhand Region

Background: Neonatal intestinal obstruction is a significant surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis andintervention to prevent life-threatening complications. Various congenital anomalies, including anorectal malfor-mation (ARM), Hirschsprung's disease (HD), intestinal atresia, meconium ileus, and gut malrotation, contributeto this condition.Aim: This study aimed to analyze the etiological patterns, gender distribution, and postoperative complicationsof neonatal intestinal obstruction in the Jharkhand region.Methodology: A prospective comparative study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, RajendraInstitute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, India, from Feb 2022 to Jan 2023. Eighty neonates who underwent surgeryfor congenital intestinal obstruction were included. Data were collected retrospectively from hospital records andanalyzed using SPSS version 27.0. Statistical tests such as Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square, andFisher’s exact test were applied, with significance set at p < 0.05.Results: The most common cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction was ARM (28.8%), followed by HD (21.3%),intestinal atresia (17.5%), and meconium ileus (15.0%). Male predominance (55%) was observed. Short-segmentHD (53.8%) was the most frequent subtype. Ileal atresia (38.8%) was the most common type of atresia. Postop-erative complications were primarily sepsis (58.8%), wound infection (17.5%), and aspiration pneumonia(11.3%).Conclusion: ARM and HD were the leading causes of neonatal intestinal obstruction in this study. Early diagno-sis, timely surgical intervention, and effective postoperative care are essential in improving survival rates andoutcomes in affected neonates.