Introduction: Nil per oral (NPO)/nil by mouth has been the most commonly practiced convention in post-operative period. Misplaced fear of aspiration led to routine prescription of “NPO.” Starvation leads to atrophy of the gut mucosa leading to decreased barrier effect of gut mucosa. This starvation-induced gut mucosal injury increases septic complications and mortality. The study aims at establishing the feasibility and effect of early enteral nutrition (EEN) in neonates following abdominal surgeries.Materials and Methods: A total of 260 cases formed the cohort of prospective cohort study, 79 in EEN - Group “A” and 181 in NPO - Group “B.” Effect of EEN was evaluated with regard to outcome, hospital stay, surgical site infections (SSI), stress markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α), and neonatal-predisposition, insult/injury, response, organ failure (Neo-PIRO) scores, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) grade, tolerance of feeds, and time to first stool. Chi-square was the statistical method used. Epi info version 7 was the software used.Results: Group B had higher mortality (20.09%) than Group A (P < 0.05). 33.7 in Group B developed SSI, of which 90% were deep and intracavitary (P < 0.05). Hospital stay was less in Group A (P < 0.05). CRP and Neo-PIRO scores were less in Group A compared to Group B (P < 0.05). TNF-α expression and IAP scores were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Procalcitonin levels were higher in Group B. Feeds were better tolerated in Group A. First stool appeared earlier in Group A than B. There was no difference in anastomotic leak in both the groups.Conclusion: EEN in neonates following abdominal surgeries is feasible, well tolerated reduces the hospital stay and mortality, and reduces SSIs, and early gut motility could be established.

Extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is an uncommon cause of neonatal jaundice. Antenatal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnosis of EHBA has not been published to the best of our knowledge till date. EHBA with cystic component is likely to be mistaken for choledochal cyst. A case that was antenatally predicted and postnatally confirmed by surgery and histopathology is being reported. All imaging signs are analyzed herewith. Imaging helps in the prediction of EHBA and also helps in early postnatal surgical referral which in turn improves the results of Kasai's portoenterostomy.

A rare case of gastric duplication cyst of tongue is reported.

Branchial cyst or congenital cystic lesions of neck originate from branchial clefts, the 2nd branchial cleft cyst being the most common and 3rd and 4th being missed. Hence, they are often misdiagnosed as lymph nodal masses, cold abscess. We are reporting a case of 3rd Branchial cleft cyst, of a 12-year-old boy who presented with left sided recurrent painful cystic mass at the level of hyoid bone going down to the level of pyriform fossa. All the tests for tuberculosis were negative. USG neck revealed loculated thick walled cyst from SCM to lateral part of pharynx. CECT revealed a thick-walled cyst extending from the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid going down obliquely below the level of thyrohyoid membrane to pyriform fossa. Exploration revealed a thick walled infected cyst, pushing left upper pole of thyroid medially and anterior to left sided superior laryngeal nerve. The cyst was going downwards medially below the level of thyrohyoid membrane. The cyst was excised completely. Histopathology revealed the findings of squamous epithelial lining of cyst wall and cholesterol crystals within. Detailed anatomy on CECT, surgery and histopathology confirmed 3rd arch Branchial cyst.

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