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Jejunoileal Atresia

By

Jaime Belkind-Gerson

, MD, MSc, University of Colorado

Reviewed/Revised Aug 2023
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Topic Resources

Jejunoileal atresia is incomplete formation of part of the small intestine. Diagnosis is by abdominal x-ray. Treatment is surgical repair.

Neonates with jejunoileal atresia usually present late during day 1 or on day 2 with increasing abdominal distention, failure to pass stools, emesis, and feeding problems. A history of polyhydramnios Polyhydramnios Polyhydramnios is excessive amniotic fluid; it is associated with maternal and fetal complications. Diagnosis is by ultrasonographic measurement of amniotic fluid volume. Management is by treating... read more is common.

Etiology of Jejunoileal Atresia

Associated congenital anomalies are less common with jejunoileal atresia than duodenal atresia Duodenal atresia The duodenum can be obstructed by atresia, stenosis, and pressure due to an extrinsic mass. (See also Overview of Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies.) Duodenal atresia is the 2nd most common... read more Duodenal atresia . The most common associated conditions are cystic fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease of the exocrine glands affecting primarily the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. It leads to chronic lung disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency... read more Cystic Fibrosis , malrotation Malrotation of the Bowel Malrotation of the bowel is failure of the bowel to assume its normal place in the abdomen during intrauterine development. Diagnosis is by abdominal x-ray. Treatment is surgical repair. (See... read more Malrotation of the Bowel , and gastroschisis Gastroschisis Gastroschisis is protrusion of the abdominal viscera through a full-thickness abdominal wall defect, usually to the right of the umbilical cord insertion. (See also Overview of Congenital Gastrointestinal... read more Gastroschisis , each of which is present in approximately 10% of cases. Peritoneal calcifications suggest the presence of meconium peritonitis, which is a sign of intrauterine intestinal perforation and can be seen in approximately 10% of cases. The presence of meconium peritonitis should raise suspicion of meconium ileus Meconium Ileus Meconium ileus is obstruction of the terminal ileum by abnormally tenacious meconium; it most often occurs in neonates with cystic fibrosis. Meconium ileus accounts for up to 33% of neonatal... read more and cystic fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease of the exocrine glands affecting primarily the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. It leads to chronic lung disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency... read more Cystic Fibrosis (1 Etiology reference Jejunoileal atresia is incomplete formation of part of the small intestine. Diagnosis is by abdominal x-ray. Treatment is surgical repair. (See also Overview of Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies... read more Etiology reference ).

Etiology reference

Classification of Jejunoileal Atresia

There are 5 major types of jejunoileal atresia:

  • Type I consists of a membrane completely occluding the lumen with the intestine intact.

  • Type II is a gap in the intestine with a fibrous cord between the proximal and distal segments of intestine.

  • Type IIIA is a mesenteric gap without any connection between the segments.

  • Type IIIB is jejunal atresia with absence of the distal superior mesenteric artery; the distal small bowel is coiled like an apple peel, and the gut is short.

  • Type IV consists of multiple atretic segments (resembling a string of sausages).

Diagnosis of Jejunoileal Atresia

  • Abdominal x-ray

A plain abdominal x-ray is done; it may reveal dilated loops of small bowel with air-fluid levels and a paucity of air in the colon and rectum. A barium enema reveals a microcolon (due to disuse).

Diagnosis reference

  • 1. Roberts HE, Cragan JD, Cono J, et al: Increased frequency of cystic fibrosis among infants with jejunoileal atresia. Am J Med Genet 78(5):446-449, 1998. doi:10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19980806)78:5<446::aid-ajmg9>3.0.co;2-j

Treatment of Jejunoileal Atresia

  • Surgical repair

Preoperative management of jejunoileal atresia consists of placing a nasogastric tube, giving nothing by mouth, and providing IV fluids.

Surgical repair is the definitive therapy. During surgery, the entire intestine should be inspected for multiple areas of atresia. The atretic portion is resected, usually with a primary anastomosis. If the proximal portion of the ileum is extremely dilated and difficult to anastomose to the distal, unused part of the intestine, it is sometimes safer to do a double-barreled ileostomy and defer anastomosis until the caliber of the distended proximal intestine has diminished. A procedure that tapers the dilated proximal loop is also a consideration (1 Treatment references Jejunoileal atresia is incomplete formation of part of the small intestine. Diagnosis is by abdominal x-ray. Treatment is surgical repair. (See also Overview of Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies... read more Treatment references ).

The prognosis for infants with jejunoileal atresia is very good with > 90% survival. Prognosis is based on the length of remaining small bowel and the presence of the ileocecal valve. Infants who subsequently develop short bowel syndrome Short Bowel Syndrome Short bowel syndrome is malabsorption resulting from extensive resection of the small bowel (usually more than two thirds the length of the small intestine). Symptoms depend on the length and... read more require total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for extended periods. They should be provided continuous enteral feedings to promote gut adaptation, maximize absorption, and minimize the use of TPN. Infants should also be provided small amounts of nutrition by mouth to maintain sucking and swallowing. Prognosis for infants with ultrashort bowel syndrome has improved significantly because of newer surgical techniques including bowel-lengthening procedures (eg, serial transverse enteroplasty procedure or STEP), improved medical care, and the ability to do small bowel transplantation (2 Treatment references Jejunoileal atresia is incomplete formation of part of the small intestine. Diagnosis is by abdominal x-ray. Treatment is surgical repair. (See also Overview of Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies... read more Treatment references , 3 Treatment references Jejunoileal atresia is incomplete formation of part of the small intestine. Diagnosis is by abdominal x-ray. Treatment is surgical repair. (See also Overview of Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies... read more Treatment references , 4 Treatment references Jejunoileal atresia is incomplete formation of part of the small intestine. Diagnosis is by abdominal x-ray. Treatment is surgical repair. (See also Overview of Congenital Gastrointestinal Anomalies... read more Treatment references ).

Treatment references

Key Points

  • Jejunoileal atresia usually manifests in the first day or two of life with signs of bowel obstruction.

  • Cystic fibrosis, malrotation, and gastroschisis are each present in approximately 10% of cases.

  • Give nothing by mouth and provide nasogastric tube suction and IV fluids pending surgical repair.

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