Congenital short gut, malrotation, and dysmotility of the small bowel

A familial syndrome of congenital short small bowel, malrotation, and functional bowel obstruction is presented and illustrated in three male siblings with one long-term survivor. Including the present three cases there have been 18 similar cases found in the literature. This disorder appears to be a sex-linked recessive inheritance. Early barium meal and follow through in siblings of patients with this condition will detect malrotation that should be surgically corrected in order to prevent mid-gut volvulus. Intravenous alimentation and early introduction of enteral feeding is important, not only to maintain nutrition but to encourage adaptation of the associated short and dysmotile bowel. These measures aim to improve the outcome of this frequently, but not invariably, fatal disorder.