Hirschsprung’s Disease Masquerading as Obstructing Congenital Band in a Premature Neonate: A Double Pathology

Abstract

Chronic Feeding intolerance in preterm infants is often associated with necrotizing enterocolitis rather than Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) or intestinal obstruction due to congenital band. We report a case of a 26-day-old male born premature at 30 weeks of gestation presenting with recurrent episodes of desaturation and feeding intolerance which were initially thought to be due to NEC. However, the pathology was found to be a congenital band that caused partial intestinal obstruction and suction rectal biopsy subsequently showed it had characteristic features of HD. This dual pathology is a rare condition that required a high index of suspicion to be able to get a correct diagnosis especially in a premature baby with non-resolving chronic feeding intolerance or chronic partial obstruction.