Intestinal atresia

During a period from 1970 to 1981, a total of 38 neonates of intestinal atresia have been treated at the Kobe Children’s Hospital. Three of nine patients occurring prior to 1973 died due to inadequare preoperative management and delay in closure of enterostomy which had been created for perforation of the bowel. In 29 patients seen after 1974, there has been only one death in whom the residual bowel was 40 cm. Refinement in anastomotic technique and advance in management before and after operation have greatly contributed to improvement in the results of surgical treatment.