Abstract

Jejunal atresia is a relatively rare cause of proximal small bowel obstruction with incidence of 1-3 per 10,000 live births.The condition is caused by in utero vascular insult, and it occurs more commonly in the proximal jejunum. These patients present with abdominal distention and bilious emesis. Workup usually starts with an abdominal radiograph, which will show dilated stomach and proximal bowel loops. An UGI is performed to exclude midgut volvulus and determine a more precise location of obstruction. Once the diagnosis is made, definitive treatment is surgical resection of the atretic segment and primary anastomosis. Malrotation with midgut volvulus is an important differential diagnosis to exclude, which is a surgical emergency.

Keywords: Jejunal atresia; Duodenojejunal junction; Midgut volvulus; In utero vascular insult

Abbreviations: UGI: Upper Gastrointestinal; DJJ: Duodenojejunal Junction; APGAR: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration