Rectal atresia, choanal atresia and congenital heart disease: a rare association

Rectal atresia is an extremely rare anorectal malformation. A unique case of rectal atresia presenting as an imperforate membrane associated with congenital cardiac malformations and unilateral choanal atresia in a newborn is reported. Ultrasound examination in the newborn infant located the presence of the rectal membrane which was surgically treated successfully.

Umbilical cord ulcer associated with fetal jejunal atresia: report of 2 cases

We report 2 cases of umbilical cord ulcer associated with fetal jejunal atresia. Both of them developed a severe intrauterine hemorrhage, followed by fetal heart rate decelerations, and underwent emergency cesarean section. Bloody amniotic fluid and umbilical cord ulcers were observed in both cases. Although both cases were successfully resuscitated, neurological impairment and renal failure developed in 1 case due to prolonged asphyxia. In a review of the literature, umbilical cord ulcer was associated only with congenital duodenal atresia or jejunal atresia, but not with ileal atresia. Although the prenatal diagnosis of duodenal or upper jejunal atresia has been established, the prenatal diagnosis of this complication has not been reported. In such cases, detailed examination of the umbilical cord by ultrasonography may be useful for the prenatal diagnosis of this disease.

The diagnostic value of the triple bubble sign in proximal jejunal atresia: a case report

Proximal jejunal atresia (PJA) is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in the newborn. Despite the need for an early surgical intervention to minimize morbidity and mortality, a timely identification is frequently precluded by the absence of specific clinical and investigative clues. Against the background of the limitations in making a timely diagnosis of PJA in a tropical setting, where opportunities for high-tech imaging tools are few, we report the diagnostic value of the "triple bubble" sign on the plain radiograph of a Nigerian infant. This radiologic finding led to an early diagnosis and ultimately a prompt surgical extirpation. The paper suggests that the presence of this sign should be a pointer to an early diagnosis of PJA.

Early prenatal diagnosis of familial intestinal polyatresia (FIPA) in a 19 weeks old fetus with sonographic and postmortem findings

Familial intestinal polyatresia (FIPA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. In this article we present a new prenatally diagnosed case with FIPA from consanguineous parents with two affected daughters. The fourth pregnancy was diagnosed prenatally with FIPA at 18 weeks sonographically and these findings were confirmed by postmortem examination.

Choledochal cyst and duodenal atresia: a rare combination

A rare case of congenital duodenal atresia (DA) associated with a choledochal cyst (CC) is reported. At 38 weeks of gestation, a 1,610-g girl was born by cesarean section with a prenatal diagnosis of DA. After the disorder was confirmed by X-ray, she underwent a duodenoduodenostomy for a complete separation of the duodenum with an annular pancreas. Thirty-two months after the initial operation, she developed upper abdominal pain and acholic stools. Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated a CC and dilatated intrahepatic bile ducts. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed an anomalous arrangement of the choledochus and main pancreatic duct. A diffusely dilatated extrahepatic bile duct was resected, and a hepaticoduodenostomy was performed after cholecystectomy. The patient was discharged without complications. We could not find a similar case report in the English literature. Although it is not reported that there is a close relationship in embryologic development of DA and CC, one should be aware of the possibility of this combination.

In utero sonographic findings in a fetus with a hereditary multiple intestinal atresia

Hereditary multiple intestinal atresia is a rare syndrome with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. We described the antenatal sonographic appearance of a case of hereditary multiple intestinal atresia. A markedly dilated cystic mass noncommunicating with the stomach was observed in the right upper quadrant of the fetal abdomen by an ultrasound scan at 30 weeks of gestation. Real-time sonographic evidence of strong peristaltic activity was not demonstrated. The infant weighing 2315 g was delivered at 35 week's gestation with Apgar scores of 7 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. At laparotomy, a prepyloric septal atresia, multiple-level small intestinal atresias and a rectal diaphragm were discovered. The infant died 52 days after the operation. The sonographer should be aware that a proximal bowel distention can be associated with hereditary multiple intestinal atresia in patients with a family history of an affected sibling.

Gastroschisis complicated by midgut atresia, absorption of bowel, and closure of the abdominal wall defect

We present a case of gastroschisis that was associated with progressive resorption of the extra-abdominal bowel loops and dilation of intra-abdominal bowel loops. After preterm delivery at 32 weeks, a small paraumbilical remnant was present. There was complete atresia of most of the jejunum, ileum, cecum, and the proximal half of the transverse colon. At laparotomy, the jejunum was anastomosed to the transverse colon. The neonate developed short gut syndrome and eventually received a liver and intestinal transplant.

Duodenal atresia with an anomalous common bile duct masquerading as a midgut volvulus

In a patient with duodenal atresia, a "double bubble" is classically present on plain radiographs. When bowel gas exists distal to the duodenum, duodenal atresia often is excluded from the differential diagnosis. The authors present a case in which contrast can be seen in the small bowel and biliary system on upper gastrointestinal series in a patient with duodenal atresia and an anomalous common bile duct. One always must consider duodenal atresia with an anomalous biliary system as a possible cause of bilious vomiting with a high grade proximal bowel obstruction in a neonate. J Pediatr Surg 36:956-957.

Omphalocele, colonic atresia, and Hirschsprung's disease: an unusual cluster of malformations in a single patient

Omphalocele, colonic atresia (CA), and Hirschsprung's disease (HD) are individually rare congenital malformations. An association between CA and HD has been described, but the co-occurrence of all three malformations has not been previously reported. We present an infant born with all three malformations and review the management issues relevant to this case, with an emphasis on the importance of considering co-existent HD in any infant born with CA.

[Prenatal diagnosis: intestinal obstruction]

We present 4 cases of fetal intestinal obstruction and their ultrasonographical findings. With regard to the reported cases we discuss the diagnostic and differential-diagnostic considerations of this rare but not uncommon fetal malformation.

[Diagnostic image (14). Atresia of the ascending colon]

A newborn girl developed a distension of the abdomen within a few hours after birth. A plain abdominal film showed multiple dilated bowel loops, with the widest in the right lower abdomen. At surgery atresia of the ascending colon was found.

Tube enterostomy in the management of intestinal atresia

A simple technique was used successfully for retraining maximum bowel length in a premature baby born with type 3A jejunal atresia. Primary end-to-end anastomosis of the tip of the dilated proximal segment to the remaining viable distal 5 cm of ileum was performed. A tube passed via the cecum proximally into the small bowel acted as a stent for the anastomosis and decompression of the bowel contents in the proximal dilated segment. This simple method may be a viable option to avoid resection of the dilated segment when the bowel length is marginal.

Congenital ileal atresia presenting as a single cyst-like lesion on prenatal sonography

A routine prenatal sonographic examination at 37 weeks' menstrual age revealed a large sonolucent lesion with peristaltic movement in the abdomen of a fetus. After birth, the female infant showed progressive abdominal distention, and radiography showed a bubble-like dilatation of the small intestine. Exploratory laparotomy revealed ileal atresia with nearby partial torsion of the dilated small bowel. The incomplete torsion may have functioned as a check valve, inducing segmental dilatation of the ileum without proximal dilatation.

Ultrasonographic detection of intrauterine intussusception resulting in ileal atresia complicated by meconium peritonitis

A neonate with ileal atresia (IA) complicated by meconium peritonitis (MP) whose prenatal ultrasonography (US) detected an intrauterine intussusception (IUI) is reported. Fetal ascites, dilated bowel loops, and abdominal calcifications were identified on serial US from 25 weeks of gestation. Intestinal loops with high echogenecity and a "target-like" appearance suggestive of IUI were detected in the right lower quadrant. The 2,680-g male was delivered vaginally at term and underwent a laparotomy. Fibrous adhesions and small calcifications were scattered throughout the peritoneal cavity. IA (interrupted type) was confirmed 17.0 cm cranial to the ileocecal valve (ICV). An ileo-ileal intussusception was also found between 16.5 cm and 9.0 cm cranial to the ICV. Partial resection of the ileum and an ileo-ileal anastomosis was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. In this case, the pathological process of IUI resulting in IA and MP was demonstrated sonographically by identifying the "target-like" appearance in the fetus.

Congenital hernia of the abdominal wall: a differential diagnosis of fetal abdominal wall defects

A 28-year-old woman was referred at 33 weeks of gestation with suspected fetal intestinal atresia. Sonography showed a large extra-abdominal mass on the right of the normal umbilical cord insertion. Following Cesarean section at 36 weeks and immediate surgical treatment, the malformation was not definable either as an omphalocele or as gastroschisis. This reported case involves a previously undocumented malformation of the fetal abdominal wall described as a 'hernia' of the fetal abdominal wall.