Author: Peter Bakes, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Important historical information to elicit is the birth history, feeding habits, stooling habits, associated symptoms, presence of bile, and presence of trauma.
• Volvulus is a common etiology of intestinal obstruction and is often due to malrotation in utero.

Editor's note: get an upper GI series if there is any bilious vomiting in a neonate. Any time of the night. Wake people up. Transfer if necessary to get the study. This can diagnose volvulus and save bowel.

References:

Ratnayake K, Kim TY. Evidence-based management of neonatal vomiting in the emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Med Pract. 2014 Nov;11(11):1-20; Review. PubMed PMID: 25928976.

Burge DM. The management of bilious vomiting in the neonate. Early Hum Dev. 2016 Nov;102:41-45. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2016.09.002. Epub 2016 Sep 12. Review. PubMed PMID: 27634337.

Summary by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD