Small bowel atresia

Question 1

What is small bowel atresia?

Answer 1

Absence of complete closure of a part of the small bowel lumen

• possible cause is the failure of recanalisation of duodenum during embryonic core stage

Question 2

What is duodenal atresia vs duodenal stenosis?

Answer 2

Atresia : complete obstruction of duodenum due to embryonic failure

Stenosis: partial narrowing of duodenum due to incomplete recanalization, can be mild or severe

Question 3

What are the symptoms of duodenum atresia?

Answer 3

Polyhydramnios

Billous vomiting

Double bubble sign on x ray

Strong association with down syndrome

Question 4

What condition is duodenal atresia associated with?

Answer 4

Down syndrome

Question 5

How to manage small bowel atresia?

Answer 5

NG tube decompression during ABCDE

Surgical: primary anastomosis or Ladd procedure if malrotation too