Assessment of Vitamin B12 Status After Ileal Resection in Paediatric Patients Managed for Intussusception at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Vitamin B12 is absorbed at the terminal ileum. Deficiencies have been noted in patients following ileal resection such as in intussusception. Assessment of vitamin B12 levels and monitoring for deficiency in such patients could be a mandatory aspect of postoperative treatment. STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess the status of vitamin B12 after ileal resection in paediatric patients managed for intussusception at Kenyatta National Hospital. METHODOLOGY STUDY SETTING Paediatric surgical outpatient clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital. STUDY POPULATION Paediatric patients who underwent ileal resection for intussusception at Kenyatta National Hospital between January 2009 and December 2019. STUDY DESIGN Descriptive cross-sectional study. SAMPLE SIZE The calculated sample size was 168 patients. DATA MANAGEMENT Blood was drawn from participants for vitamin B12 studies. The results, together with biodata and clinical information was entered into a data collection tool and analyzed. Continuous data was analyzed and summarized as means and standard deviations while categorical data was analyzed and displayed in charts by use of frequencies and proportions. Chi-square test, fisher’s exact test and ANOVA were used to ascertain association among categorical and clinical variables. A P value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant for 95% confidence interval. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION The parents or legal guardians of the children were taken through the process of informed consent. Confidentiality, anonymity, and privacy was observed throughout the study period. Institutional consent was requested from the Department of Surgery, University of Nairobi (UON), Ethics and Research Committee of KNH.