DUODENAL ATRESIA AND STENOSIS

Course overview

DUODENAL ATRESIA IS A CONGENITAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION THAT CAN CAUSE BILIOUS OR NON BILIOUS VOMITING WITHIN THE FIRST 24 TO 38 HOURS OF NEONATAL LIFE, TYPICALLY FOLLOWING THE FIRST ORAL FEEDING. IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH IN-UTERO POLYHYDRAMNIOS AND IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF FETAL BOWEL OBSTRUCTION. IF DUODENAL ATRESIA IS NOT DIAGNOSED ANTENATALLY, THEN THE DIAGNOSIS CAN BE MADE RADIOGRAPHICALLY WITH A PLAIN ABDOMINAL X-RAY AS THE FIRST STEP IN EVALUATION. THIS MAY BE FOLLOWED BY A CONTROLLED CONTRAST EXAM IF NEEDED. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PRESENTATION OF DUODENAL ATRESIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.