Skip to main content
Log in

Intestinal obstruction due to roundworms

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Roundworms are the most common intestinal helminths responsible for small-bowel obstruction; 74 cases of intestinal obstruction due to ascariasis over 5 years are reviewed. Surgical intervention was necessary in 26 cases for relief of obstruction and included massaging of worms into the colon, enterotomy, resection and anastomosis, and bowel exteriorization. It is suggested that routine deworming of all patients attending pediatric surgical outpatient clinics should be done to prevent worm infestation and its complications. Surgery should be performed using nonabsorbable sutures for closure of enterotomies and for bowel anastomosis after resection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aiken DW, Dickman FN (1957) Surgery in obstruction of small intestine due to ascariasis. JAMA 164: 1317–1323

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bar-Baor JA, deCarvalho JLAF, Chappell J (1984) Gastrograffin treatment of intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides. J Pediatr Surg 19: 174–176

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cole GJ (1965) Surgical manifestations of Ascaris lumbricoides in the intestine. Br J Surg 52: 444–447

    Google Scholar 

  4. Deshmukh JS, Kukade KL, Chitale VR (1988) Should patients undergoing elective surgery be dewormed for ascariasis? Indian J Surg 50: 429–431

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ihekwaba FN (1979) Ascaris lumbricoides and perforation of the ileum-critical review. Br J Surg 66: 132–134

    Google Scholar 

  6. Joshi MJ (1982) Ascariasis. In: Joshi MJ (ed) Surgical diseases in the tropics. Macmillan, London pp 86–99

    Google Scholar 

  7. Louw JH (1966) Abdominal complications of Ascaris lumbricoides infestation in children. Br J Surg 53 (6): 510–521

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mokoena T, Luvuno FM (1988) Conservative management of intestinal obstruction due to ascaris worms in adult patients — a preliminary report. J R Coll Surg Edinb 33: 318–321

    Google Scholar 

  9. Narmada R, Athinarayanan P, Raju VB (1975) Study of helminthiasis in children and evaluation of tetramisole in ascariasis. Indian Pediatr 12: 685–688

    Google Scholar 

  10. Nicholson JP, Kreiger K, Hartmann B, Isom W, Laragh JH (1989) Cardiac arrest post-operatively in a patient infected with Ascaris, the roundworm. Chest 96: 922–923

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ochoa B (1991) Surgical complications of ascariasis. World J Surg 15: 222–227

    Google Scholar 

  12. Oschner A, DeBakey EG, Dixon JL (1949) Complications of Ascaris requiring surgical treatment: report of cases with abdominothoracic complications. Am J Dis Child 77: 387–407

    Google Scholar 

  13. Rao PLNG, Satyanarayana G, Venkatesh A (1988) Intraperitoneal ascariasis. J Pediatr Surg 23: 936–938

    Google Scholar 

  14. Rao PLNG, Sharma AK, Mitra SK (1978) Acute intestinal obstruction in children as seen in north-west India. Indian Pediatr: 1017–1020

  15. Sarinama C (1954) In clinical conference at Hospital de Infantil de Mexico; case 3-Intestinal perforation due to ascariasis. J Pediatr 45: 488–491

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sunderan N, Paulose MO (1988) Surgical complications of roundworm in children. J Pediatr Surg 23: 931–935

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mohta, A., Bagga, D., Malhotra, C.J. et al. Intestinal obstruction due to roundworms. Pediatr Surg Int 8, 226–228 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182524

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182524

Key words

Navigation