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Merck Manual
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Home /
Quick Facts: Children's Health Issues /
Birth Defects of the Digestive Tract /
... /
Intestinal Malrotation /
IN THIS TOPIC

What is intestinal malrotation?

What are the symptoms of intestinal malrotation?

How can doctors tell if my child has intestinal malrotation?

How do doctors treat intestinal malrotation?

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Birth Defects of the Digestive Tract
Abdominal Wall Defects
Anorectal Malformations
Biliary Atresia
Diaphragmatic Hernia
Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula
Hirschsprung Disease
Intestinal Malrotation

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Quick Facts

Intestinal Malrotation

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Apr 2020| Content last modified Apr 2020
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What is intestinal malrotation?

Intestinal malrotation is a birth defect in which the intestines don't develop normally before birth.

  • Before birth, your baby's intestines develop in one position and then turn (rotate) into their normal location

  • Sometimes a baby's intestines don't rotate into the normal location, called "mal" or "bad" rotation

  • Malrotation causes intestinal blockage and is life-threatening

  • Babies need surgery to fix the problem

Babies with intestinal malrotation often have other birth defects.

What are the symptoms of intestinal malrotation?

Intestinal malrotation may cause your baby’s intestines to be blocked. Symptoms of blockage may start during the first month of life or not for several years. Symptoms also may come and go and usually include:

  • Throwing up

  • Swollen, painful belly

How can doctors tell if my child has intestinal malrotation?

Doctors suspect your baby has intestinal malrotation if the baby throws up greenish bile. To know for sure, they’ll do barium x-rays (use barium placed in your baby’s rectum to help see the position of the baby’s digestive tract).

How do doctors treat intestinal malrotation?

Intestinal malrotation is a potential emergency, so doctors will treat the baby right away with: 

  • Fluids given by IV (through a vein)

  • Surgery to repair the intestines

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© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA)
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