Case study: Baby "Twinamasiko"

This little baby came to us aged 2 weeks with a history of vomiting since birth.  The vomit was yellow suggesting it contained bile which implies a serious obstruction.  The baby was very dehydrated and had lost a significant amount of weight and required resuscitation with intra-venous fluids.

The parents are educated and very caring of their baby but nevertheless had first sought help from traditional healers who had performed "ebiino".  This involves digging in the gum for an un-erupted tooth which of course looks very odd and is then said to be the cause of the problem.

The x-ray showed significant obstruction and the baby went to theatre.  Anaesthesia was performed by one of our Anaesthetic Officers using ketamine.

Dr Gabriel, our Surgeon, found the baby had malrotation with a band causing the obstruction near the duodenum which he divided.


The baby was able to restart oral fluids after a day or two and made a good recovery.

Parents were very anxious during the initial post-operative phase but it was lovely to see how delighted they were when they were able to take him home.

Congenital abnormalities such as malrotation may present significant challenges to medical services.  In UK he would have had specialist paediatric surgery unit care in a regional unit with specialist anaesthetists, constant monitoring etc.

The case also demonstrates the challenge of health education once again, with even educated parents delaying bringing very sick children to hospital.

It is a credit to Dr Gabriel and all the theatre and support staff as well as the nurses on the special care baby unit that baby "Twinamasiko" went home well.  Support from friends of Kisiizi such as the syringe pump for iv fluids and oxygen monitor all helped in his care.

ready to go home with Dad...