Atresia of the colon

Eleven infants with colon atresia have been managed by staged procedure with survival and good health in ten. Complications have been relatively few. At the initial operation the proximal atretic segment is exteriorized as an end colostomy. Such a procedure is simple and safe, results in rapid relief of the obstruction, and permits normal feeding by mouth within a few days. At a second procedure several weeks or months later, intestinal continuity is established by an end-to-end or end-to-side anastomosis. Gastroschisis has been an associated anomaly in four of these cases. This association gives additional support to the concept that intrauterine interference to the blood supply to a segment of intestines is the etiologic factor responsible for such atresias.