Subacute Infantile Hypoxic-Ischaemic Colitis Secondary to Congenital Absence of the Vascular Arcade at Griffith's Point: A Multidisciplinary Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.835Keywords:
Hypoxic-ischaemic colitis, Griffith’s point, Watershed area, Congenital vascular anomaly, Infantile colectomy, Multidisciplinary care.Abstract
Background: Subacute infantile hypoxic-ischaemic colitis is an uncommon form of intestinal injury that differs from classical necrotising enterocolitis.
Case Presentation: A term infant weighing 2,100 g developed persistent hematochezia and transfusion-dependent anaemia following severe birth asphyxia complicated by hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, acute kidney injury, and patent ductus arteriosus. Despite broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy and successful enteral feeding, gastrointestinal bleeding persisted. Diagnostic laparoscopy followed by laparotomy demonstrated localized hypoxic-ischaemic colitis extending from the left transverse colon to the sigmoid colon associated with congenital absence of the marginal vascular arcade at Griffith's point. Left colectomy and primary colocolic anastomosis were successfully performed.
Results: Histopathological examination confirmed transmural hypoxic-ischaemic colitis. Enteral feeding resumed on postoperative day three. At one-year follow-up the infant remained asymptomatic with normal growth and development.
Conclusion: Congenital absence of collateral circulation at Griffith's point may predispose term infants to localized colonic ischaemia following severe perinatal hypoxia. Early multidisciplinary evaluation and timely surgical intervention can achieve excellent outcomes.
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Articles published in the Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies (JAMS) are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise stated. Authors retain copyright of their work and grant JAMS the right of first publication.
