Although Meckel's diverticulum is the most common vitellointestinal duct (VID) anomaly, patent vitellointestinal duct (PVID) is the most common symptomatic embryological defect. Patient may present with the anomaly itself or due to complications like intestinal obstruction secondary to volvulus, intussusception or adhesions. Prolapse occurs if the diverticulum is wide-mouthed enough to allow bowel to come out or due to increased intra-abdominal pressure like cry or cough. Bowel prolapse through PVID is rare and double prolapse of proximal as well as distal loop in a newborn is extremely rare. Omphalocele with prolapsing bowel through PVID as found in our index case is even rarer in literature. The pediatric surgeon should be familiar with these varied manifestations in the newborn because the prolapsed bowel can progress to gangrene and complications if not identified and operated upon early.
Because rectal prolapse in pediatric age was known to have a self-limitting natural history in weeks to years, this disease is prone to be regarded as a minor codition to the most of surgeons. But to the children and the parents who have to be suffered each time could be a heavy distress. Even though operative or nonoperative methods can be applicable for treatment, the main problem is in surgeon's side, whose preference is based on the experiences of adult patients. The authors have experienced 16 cases of ano-rectal prolapse for 9 years since 1986. Eleven of them were true rectal prolapses. In 7 cases of true type, injection therapy has been tried. One ml of five per cent phenol in glycerine was injected into the submucosal layer of the ano-rectal angle level at both lateral and posterior sides. After first trial of each cases, 5 of them were cured completely so far. Recurrences were in two cases, but one of them was temporary to be subsided afterward. Complete bowel cleansing and adequate sedations were required as preoperative preparations. Two days' oral antibiotics and two weeks' laxatives for free of defecation straining were recommended after the procedure. The safety of sclerosis was supported by the experimental histology. In pediatric rectal prolapse, sclerosis seems to be a safe and effective treatement of choice without any significant morbidity.