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Congenital anomalies, congenital malformations, or birth defects can be defined as any structural or functional anomalies that develop prenatally and could be identified before, at birth, or later in life. Approximately 6% of babies are born with a congenital anomaly, which results in 2.4 million newborn deaths worldwide. This systematic review and meta-analysis ascertained the quantitative studies published in PubMed, ClinicalKey, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Two authors independently screened and extracted the data from the primary studies that analyzed the efficacy of early enteral nutrition (EEN) on the postoperative outcome. This systematic review and meta-analysis adopted Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. The methodological quality of trials was assessed by Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. Six trials, representing 488 children, with age ranging from 10 days to 6.5 years, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. EEN has significantly shortened hospital stay, induced early fecal movement, and reduced postoperative wound infections in children with congenital gastrointestinal abnormalities undergoing gastrointestinal anastomosis compared with children who received late enteral nutrition. The review also found that the experimental group who received EEN had no significant impact on the anastomosis leakage, vomiting, and abdominal distension. EEN has some positive effects on postsurgery outcomes among children with congenital gastrointestinal anomalies undergoing gastrointestinal anastomosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Surgery is still indicated as the treatment of choice in subset of patients with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney (UMCDK) because of its potential complications and malignant change. The purpose of this study is to present our observation that early nephrectomy may cure hypertension early in children with UMCDK and review the literature. Materials and Methods We report here four children (two males and two females) with antenatally diagnosed UMCDK with hypertension, treated in the past 4 years. All have antenatal diagnosis of UMCDK and referred to us after their birth. Diagnosis of hypertension (blood pressure > 95th percentile) was made after 3 months of follow-up in all patients. Nephrectomy was performed in all children in variable time duration. Hypertension, urinary tract infection, and desire of parents were the main indication of surgery. Results All children showed decrease in the size of their dysplastic kidney with time, but hypertension was persistent and needed antihypertensive drugs; even increase in the doses in successive follow-up. After nephrectomy, three children who were operated early got cured having normal blood pressure within variable time duration, while a child, operated late, still had high blood pressure and needed antihypertensive drugs. Conclusion Early nephrectomy in recently diagnosed hypertension in UMCDK is advisable and can cure hypertension early. Levels of Evidence The level of evidence is IV (case series with no comparison group). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]