[Upper jejunal atresia: treatment using jejunal resection, duodenal modeling and duodeno-jejunal or ileal anastomosis. Results in 13 newborn infants].

13 high jejunal atresias, including 6 type IIIb apple peel small bowel deformities, have been treated by a one stage surgical procedure, including proximal jejunal resection, tapering duodenoplasty and end-to-end duodeno-jejunal or duodeno-ileal anastomosis. All 13 infants survived. There were no anastomotic leak or malfunction. 7 jejunal atresias with normal distal small bowel were fed a mean of 9 days post-operatively (range 4 to 12 days). Intra-venous fluids were discontinued at a mean of 18 days post-operatively (range 13 to 24 days). Patients, all premature babies, were discharged on the mean 30th post-operative day (range 24 to 40). 5 jejunal atresias with apple peel deformity were fed with an average post-operative delay of 21 days (range 12 to 24). All intra-venous fluids were discontinued at a mean of 48 days post-operatively (range 35 to 90). Average hospital stay was 78 days (45 to 120). In one case, an ileal diaphragm, unnoticed during the first operation was subsequently resected at age 45 days and an iterative tapering duodenoplasty was performed at the age of 8 months. Recovery was then uncomplicated and the child was discharged on a normal oral feeding at the age of 10 months. Functional obstruction of the intestine at the site of anastomosis often occurs in high jejunal atresias. 70% of mortality resulted from operative complications in atresias with apple peel deformity. Intestinal distension is the cause of anastomotic malfunction. After jejunal resection, the duodenum remains dilated and anastomosis cannot function properly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)