The decreased mortality associated with intestinal atresia is due to improvement in diagnosis, anesthesia, surgical techniques, and the use of antibiotics.4 A modification of the surgical technique described elsewhere,1,3 is presented for consideration and evaluation.
Representative Case
A 12-hour-old, white male was transferred to the USAF Hospital, Wiesbaden, with a history of vomiting and progressive abdominal distention. A meconium stool had been passed prior to transfer. Physical examination revealed abdominal distention and absent bowel sounds. X-rays of the abdomen suggested intestinal obstruction.An intravenous catheter was inserted, the stomach decompressed, and a laparotomy performed shortly after admission. A volvulus of the mid-gut with perforation and atresia of the distal jejunum was present. The proximal bowel was markedly distended for approximately 20 cm.The amount of fifty ml of 0.5% neomycin solution was injected into the proximal viable appearing bowel. The distended non-viable portion was then resected. The proximal