The members of the Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons conducted a retrospective study of two hundred and twenty-two cases of intestinal atresia for the period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. Seventeen hospitals were involved. There were 76 duodenal, 65 jejunal, and 81 ileal atresias (3 colonic). The male to female ratio was 0.85:1 in DA and 1.34:1 in JIA. Ninety-four patients(43.3%) were premature babies (DA 40.3%, JA 64.6%, IA 28.8%), and 70 babies (32.0%) had low birth weight (DA 38.7%, JA 44.4%, IA 16.0%). Antenatal diagnosis was made in 153 cases (68.9%). However, 27 infants (17.6%) with antenatal diagnosis were transferred to the pediatric surgeon's hospitals after delivery. Maternal polyhydramnios was observed in 81 cases (36.59%) and most frequent with proximal obstruction. In forty-four cases (19.8%), only simple abdominal film was taken for diagnostic study. The associated malformations were more frequently observed in DA - 61.8% in DA and 22.6% in JIA. Meconium peritonitis, small bowel volvulus and intussusception were more frequently associated with ileal atresia. The overall mortality rate was 3.6%.
Citations
A survey on intestinal atresia was made among 34 members of Korean Association of Pediatric Surgeons about the patients who were treated from the January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1996. The response rate was 82.4%. Two hundred and fifteen patients were analyzed. The lesion occurred in 73 cases at duodenum, in 72 cases at jejunum, in 71 cases at ileum and 2 cases at cecum and sigmoid colon each. There were 2 cases of combined anomalies (DA + JA + IA and DA + JA). Male to female ratio was 1:1 in duodenal atresia. and 1.8:1 in jejunoileal atresia. Seventy-four cases (34.3%) were premature babies (DA 35.2%, JA:48.6%, IA:19.2%), and 62 cases (28.7%) had low birth weight (DA:39.4%, JA 33.0%, IA:13.7%). Antenatal diagnosis was made in 92 cases (43.6%). However 22 cases (23.9%) of them were transferred to pediatric surgeon after delivery. Maternal polyhydramnios was observed in 63 cases (28.9%). Seventy-five cases (34.4%) were taken only simple abdominal film for diagnostic studies. The associated malformations were observed in 54 cases (24.8%) of intestinal aresia and more frequently observed in duodenal atresia (35 cases, 47.9%). Meconium peritonitis due to intrauterine bowel perforation was more frequently associated with ileal atresia compared to duodenum and jejunum. The overall mortality rate was 30%. (Abbreviations: DA;duodenal atersia, JA;jejunal atresia, IA;ileal atrsia, PT;p-value in total, PDJ,DI,JI;p-value between two groups among duodenal, jejunal and ileal groups)
Citations
Meconium peritonitis is a primarily aseptic, chemical peritonitis caused by the spill of meconium into the abdominal cavity through an intestinal perforation during the intrauterine or perinatal period. The perforation is known to be related to intrauterine vascular compromise. Recently, the authors experienced 4 cases of ileal atresia complicated by meconium peritonitis. The male to female sex ratio was 1 : 3, and age at operation was 1 day(2 cases), 3 days(2 cases). Three cases had generalized peritonitis, and one the cystic type of meconium peritonitis. The types of ileal atresia were IIIa(2 cases), IIIb(1 case), and II(1 case). The proximal blind ileal end was perforated in 3 cases, and distal end perforation was in 1 case of cystic type. Postoperative recovery was excellent in all cases.
A 2-day-old male {Premie, Large for gestational age(LGA), Intrauterine period (IUP) 33 weeks, birth weight 2,955 gram} was transferred with marked abdominal distention, bilious return via the orogastric tube, respiratory difficulty, and generalized edema (hydrops fetalis). He was born by cesarean section to a 36 year-old mother. Antenatal ultrasonogram at IUP 31 weeks demonstrated multiple dilated bowel loops suggestive of intestinal obstruction. There was no family history of cystic fibrosis. Simple abdominal films disclosed diffuse haziness and suspicious fine calcifications in the right lower quadrant. Barium enema demonstrated a microcolon. Sweat chloride test was not available in our institution. At laparotomy, there noted 1) a segmental volvulus of the small bowel with gangrenous change, associated with meconium peritonitis, 2) an atresia of the ileum at the base of the volvulus, and 3) the terminal ileum distal to the volvulus was narrow and impacted with rabbit pellets-like thick meconium. These findings appeared to be very similar to those of a complicated meconium ileus. In . summary, the ileal atresia and meconium peritonitis seemed to be caused by antenatal segmental volvulus of the small intestine in a patient with probable meconeum ileus.
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Jejunal and ileal atresias are the most common cause of congenital intestinal obstruction and accounts for about 1/3 of all cases of intestinal obstruction in newborns. Despite the relative frequency of this anomaly, its survival rate was less than 10% up to 1950, more recently the survival rate has risen rapidly to 90% with the introduction of modern surgical techniques and the use of total parenteral nutrition. In 1969 Thomas described a tapering jejunoplasty to manage the discrepancy in the size of the proximal dilated lumen & contracted distal lumen, and to preserve absorptive surface when the dilated jejunum involved a long length, and Grosfeld et al.(l979) facilitated this method by using GIA staplers. Author have also used GIA stapler to resect the antimesenteric portion of the dilated proximal bowel in 8 cases of jejunoileal atresias with good results. The following results were obtained; 1. There we 3 jejunal atresias & 5 ileal atresias, and male to female sex ratio was 5 : 3. 2. The type of atresia was as follows; type IIIa was 3 cases, type IIIb was 4 cases, type IIIb+IV was 1 case. 3. In non-complication cases(5 cases), the mean hospital day was 16 days, and oral feeding was feasible from 6.2 days after operation. 4. The complications(anastomotic leakage, pneumonia) were frequently occurred in type IIIb cases and in low birth weight cases(75%). 5. Mortality rate was 25% including DAMA(discharge against medical advice) discharge case.