Tapering enteroplasty in infants with bowel atresia and short gut.

Antimesenteric tapering enteroplasty was evaluated as an alternative to resection in 16 babies. Tapering enteroplasty was done for jejunal atresia (11), ileal atresia (three), total colonic aganglionosis (one), and colonic atresia (one). Most had short gut with proximal bowel dilation. There were no anastomotic leaks but slight functional delay (eight to 14 days). One patient with 14 jejunoileal atresias received continuous-drip feeding while the remainder took regular diet. Mean weight gain was in the 25th percentile at 1 year of age, and the 35th percentile at 2 years of age. There were two deaths from liver failure and brain damage. Antimesenteric tapering enteroplasty is particularly useful in selected instances of intestinal atresia associated with short gut, where preservation of bowel length may be essential for survival. Gastrointestinal function, bowel movement patterns and growth and development have been gratifying.