Intestinal Obstruction of Congenital Origin

Physicians concerned with the care of children today are aware of the increasing importance of developmental malformations as a cause of death and disability in early life. Fifteen per cent of these malformations involve the gastrointestinal tract,¹and the majority of these lesions produce some form of intestinal obstruction, which, if complete, can cause or contribute to the death of the infant in the neonatal period; if incomplete or of recurring nature, can lead to prolonged disability throughout infancy, childhood, and, occasionally, adult life. Intestinal obstruction of congenital origin may be due to (1) intrinsic obstruction (atresia and stenosis), (2) neuromuscular defects (primary intestinal aganglionosis), (3) anomalies of rotation and fixation (malrotation, volvulus, internal hernia, congenital bands), (4) intraluminal obstruction (meconium ileus or meconium plugs), (5) extrinsic lesions (annular pancreas, duplication, neoplasm), (6) and meconium peritonitis (Charts 1 and 2). Not infrequently more than one of these lesions may