RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Missed or delayed diagnosis of anorectal malformations: a review of the literature, current training and practice in the UK in relation to detection via the NIPE programme
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP fetalneonatal-2022-324667
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324667
A1 Govind V S Murthi
A1 Thomas McEwan
A1 Gregor M Walker
A1 Porus Bustani
YR 2023
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/early/2023/02/02/archdischild-2022-324667.abstract
AB Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are a spectrum of congenital anomalies where there is abnormal development of the anus and rectum. With an incidence of 1:5000 live births and affecting both males and females, these anomalies vary in their appearance and presentation, lack features enabling antenatal detection and should be detected at birth by the examining midwife or within 72 hours through the newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) screening programme. However, it is recognised that the diagnosis of ARMs can be missed or delayed leading to morbidity and mortality. In the UK, despite the existence of the NIPE screening programme and NICE guidelines, published literature shows that nearly a quarter of ARMs are not diagnosed at birth. This review takes a critical look at the frequency of missed/delayed diagnosis of ARMs at birth, the implications of delayed diagnosis, and the possible reasons for this related to education and training of healthcare professionals involved in newborn examination, focusing on the UK national screening programme for NIPE. We propose a strategy for enhancing detection of ARMs in a timely manner through the existing framework of the NIPE screening programme.Data sharing not applicable as no datasets generated and/or analysed for this study.