[Is the Bishop-Koop anastomosis in treatment of neonatal ileus still current?]

Fourty-three cases of ileus in newborns are presented. Twenty-seven newborns received a Bishop-Koop anastomosis. In 19 cases, the Bishop-Koop anastomosis was performed primarily and in 8 cases as a second intervention. We consider the Bishop-Koop anastomosis to be a safer procedure than primary end-to-end or end-to-side anastomosis. Only one anastomotic leak occurred in our patients. We prefer the Bishop-Koop anastomosis not only in cases of meconium ileus, but also in other types of intestinal atresia and stenosis, especially for the management of greatly different intestinal diameters. In our experience, this method is also suitable for re-anastomosing a double-barrel anastomosis. The Bishop-Koop procedure minimizes the risks of primary anastomosis without enterostoma, and later extraperitoneal closure of the stoma is easy and safe.