[Review of 70 cases of duodenal obstruction: diagnosis and treatment]

A review of 10 years (1964-1973) of patients admitted to the Hospital Infantil de Mexico with duodenal obstruction is made. There were 70 cases, 33 of which corresponded to intrinsic obstruction and 37 to the extrinsic type. The clinical picture, whether complete or incomplete obstruction is involved, is analysed and the importance of radiology is emphasized to reach an early diagnosis. The surgical management is described in accordance with the type of lesion found. Mortality in this type of pathology is still high in spite of the improvement in surgical techniques and intensive management of newborns, considering that these patients usually show low weight and a high frequency of associated malformations.