Intestinal atresia and stenosis as seen and treated at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi

East Afr Med J. 1993 Sep;70(9):558-64.

Abstract

In this retrospective study carried out covering the period, 1978-1991, 62 neonates were seen, diagnosed and treated for intestinal atresia which included: duodenal atresia and stenosis, small bowel atresia and atresia of large bowel. Locations of obstruction were duodenal in 17 patients, jejunal in 25 patients, jejuno-ileal in 5 and colon in two. Duodenal atresia was noted in 9 infants and duodenal stenosis due to annular pancreas, Ladd's bands with malrotation of bowel in 8. Associated anomalies which were observed were anorectal malformations in 2 and malrotation in 2 infants. Birth weights ranged from 1450 gm to 3000 gm. Prematurity was recorded in 11 infants. Diagnosis of intestinal atresia in our patients was made clinically and radiologically. Intestinal atresia in neonates was differentiated from other causes of obstruction such as Meconium Ileus, Hirschsprung's disease, neonatal volvulus, rectal atresia in anorectal malformations. Treatment of infants with intestinal atresia was surgical. Surgical techniques used depended on pathological findings. In 36 patients, complications such as functional obstructions with vomiting and failure to thrive, malabsorption, aspiration, bronchopneumonia, sepsis were observed. Overall mortality rate in our cases was 25 (41.9%) out of 62 patients.

MeSH terms

  • Birth Weight
  • Colon / abnormalities*
  • Colonic Diseases* / congenital
  • Colonic Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Colonic Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Colonic Diseases* / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Duodenal Obstruction* / congenital
  • Duodenal Obstruction* / diagnostic imaging
  • Duodenal Obstruction* / epidemiology
  • Duodenal Obstruction* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ileal Diseases* / congenital
  • Ileal Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Ileal Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Ileal Diseases* / surgery
  • Infant Mortality
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases* / surgery
  • Intestinal Atresia* / classification
  • Intestinal Atresia* / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Atresia* / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Atresia* / surgery
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / congenital
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / epidemiology
  • Intestinal Obstruction* / surgery
  • Intestine, Small / abnormalities*
  • Jejunal Diseases* / congenital
  • Jejunal Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Jejunal Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Jejunal Diseases* / surgery
  • Kenya / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate