Colon atresia and stenosis in Zimbabwe: case reports and a review of the literature.

Two neonates with colon atresia and one with colon stenosis presented in Harare over a six month period. The first patient was treated with a local resection and primary anastomosis for a type II colon atresia. The second had an excision of obstructing septum, widening coloplasty and cecostomy for a type I colon atresia. The third patient had a sigmoido-rectoplasty and cecostomy for a sigmoid colon stenosis. The third patient also had a cystic duplication of the small bowel. No other anomalies were noted. All three patients survived and were developing normally at six months post-operatively. A review of medical records at Harare and Parirenyatwa Hospitals revealed no other case of colon atresia in the last 10 years. The incidence by site of gastro-intestinal atresias in Zimbabwe is consistent with other reports.