Jejunal atresia

Intestinal atresia is any congenital malformation of the intestine which causes bowel obstruction. The malformation can be a narrowing (stenosis), absence, or rotation of a portion of the intestine. These defects can either occur in the small or large intestine. Intestinal atresia is any congenital malformation of the intestine which causes bowel obstruction. The malformation can be a narrowing (stenosis), absence, or rotation of a portion of the intestine. These defects can either occur in the small or large intestine. Different types of intestinal atresia may be classified by their location. Patients may have intestinal atresia in multiple locations. Malformations may also occur along multiple portions of the intestinal tract; for instance a malformation that occurs along or spans the length of the jejunum and the ilieum is termed jejunoileal atresia. Intestinal atresia can also by classified by the type of malformation. The classification system by Louw and Barnard (1955) divided them into four families of malformation: In rare cases, the small intestine wraps around its vascular supply and forms a spiral; this is called apple peel bowel, apple-peel intestinal atresia, or Christmas tree intestinal atresia, and can occur along either the duodenum, the jejunum, or both. The most common cause of non-duodenal intestinal atresia is a vascular accident in utero that leads to decreased intestinal perfusion and ischemia of the respective segment of bowel. This leads to narrowing, or in the most severe cases, complete obliteration of the intestinal lumen. In the case that the superior mesenteric artery, or another major intestinal artery, is occluded, large segments of bowel can be entirely underdeveloped. Classically, the affected area of bowel assumes a spiral configuration and is described to have an 'apple peel' like appearance; this is accompanied by lack of a dorsal mesentery.Ileal atresia can also result as a complication of meconium ileus. The most common form of intestinal atresia is duodenal atresia. It has a strong association with Down syndrome. The second most common type is ileal atresia.