Intestinal atresia is a frequent cause of intestinal obstruction in the newborn. We reviewed the clinical presentation, associated anomalies, types of atresias, operative managements, and early postoperative complications in 36 cases of intestinal atresia treated at the Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital between January 1994 and February 2003. Location of the lesion was duodenum in 17 patients, jejunum in 11 patients and ileum in 8 patients. The male to female ratio was 1:1.4 in duodenal atresia (DA), 2.7:1 in jejunal atresia (JA) and 7:1 in ileal atresia (IA). The most common type was type III (41.1 %) in DA, and type I (52.6 %) in JA and IA. The most common presenting symptoms was vomiting(88.2 %) in DA, but in jejunoileal atresia, vomiting(89.4 %) and abdominal distension(89.4 %) were the most common sign and symptom. All cases of DA were diagnosed by plain abdominal radiography. There were 6 cases of DA with congenital heart disease, 3 cases of DA with Down syndrome and 3 cases of JA with meconium peritonitis. Segmental resection was performed in 13 cases, duodenoduodenostomy in 11 cases, membrane excision in 7 cases, jejunojejunostomy in 2 cases, gastroduodenostomy in 2 cases and ileocolic anastomosis in 1 case. There were 9 postoperative complications including 3 each of anastomotic leakage, wound infection, and intestinal obstruction 3 cases. The mortality rate for DA was 11.8 %(2/17). Both deaths in DA were attributed to congenital heart disease. The mortality rate for JA was 18% (2/11). Both cases died with sepsis and short bowel syndrome.
