Laparoscopic Management of Congenital Intestinal Obstruction: Duodenal Atresia and Small Bowel Atresia

Congenital intestinal obstruction occurs in ∼1:2000 live births. Congenital duodenal atresia and duodenal stenosis are frequent causes of intestinal obstruction and occur in 1 per 5000-10,000 live births. Today, duodeno-duodeno anastomosis is still the treatment of choice, and it can be performed safely by minimally invasive surgery, although duodenojejunal anastomosis is surgically simpler and has equal results. Jejunum-ileal atresia or stenosis is a major cause of neonatal intestinal obstruction; its prevalence is 1:330-1:1500 live births. Nowadays, the ability of laparoscopic assisted identification of the atresia and repair by only exteriorization of the small bowel through the umbilicus makes this technique safe and feasible in almost every new born. This article will describe the operative technique of laparoscopic management of congenital duodenal and small bowel obstruction. For congenital duodenal atresia patients, mortality rate is less than 5% and the majority are secondary to associated comorbidities. There is a low rate of anastomotic leaks, anastomotic stricture, delayed gastric emptying, and bacterial overgrowth. For small bowel atresia patients, complications include anastomotic leak, adhesions, small bowel obstruction, and short bowel syndrome in less than 5% of the patients. The rate of re-operations due to small bowel obstruction in laparoscopic assisted repair patients is less compared with laparotomy patients. Minimally invasive surgery for duodenal and small bowel atresia is safe and feasible and reduces the complications of open surgical procedures.