Type 1 Bland Sutton colonic atresia complicated by fetalis hydrops in a premature neonate

Colonic atresia (CA) is an unusual cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction where a section of the colon has failed to form, leading to blockage or absence. A premature baby was delivered at 32 weeks of gestation via caesarian section following fetal distress. She was grossly oedematous and diagnosed with severe fetalis hydrops secondary to anaemia. She was resuscitated and stabilized. On the sixth day of life, the neonate's abdomen became severely distended with billous vomiting and failure to pass meconium. We suspected intestinal obstruction and performed an omnipaque enema which revealed dilated small bowel loops and a bowel atresia. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed a Type 1 Bland Sutton CA with mucosal web. An end colostomy was successfully performed and uneventful. In our case report, we describe a rare occurrence of postnatally diagnosed CA, complicated by fetalis hydrops and anaemia.