Acquired Ileal Atresia in a Preterm Infant.

Lee,  Hyun Ju; Na,  Jae Yun; Ha,  Tae Kyung; Park,  Hyun kyung; Kim,  Chang ryul

doi:2012.19.1.46

Neonatal Med > Volume 19(1); 2012 > Article

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society of Neonatology 2012;19(1):46-50.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5385/jksn.2012.19.1.46 Published online February 28, 2012.

Acquired Ileal Atresia in a Preterm Infant.

Hyun Ju Lee, Jae Yun Na, Tae Kyung Ha, Hyun kyung Park, Chang ryul Kim

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. neopark@hanyang.ac.kr
²Department of General Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Acquired ileal atresia is a rare but life-threatening complication that can occur after recovery from necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. We present an unusual case of acquired ileal atresia in the distal ileum injured by ischemia after intestinal perforation in an extremely low-birth-weight infant. A 900 g (25 weeks gestation) premature infant developed a pneumoperitoneum without the radiologic manifestations of necrotizing enterocolitis on day 9 of life. Primary peritoneal drainage without further need for surgery was performed in the neonatal intensive care facility. Gastrointestinal gastrografin studies confirmed normal intestinal continuity and regular stools. Several weeks later, while the patient was receiving all nutrition orally with no medical problems, the patient's condition suddenly deteriorated, along with clinical signs of intestinal obstruction including emesis of bilious contents and stools. Laparotomy (on day 45 of life) revealed ileal atresia with V-shaped gap mesenteric defect.

Key Words: Aquired ileal atresia; Preterm infants; Intestinal perforation