Congenital duodenal obstruction: a survey of mortality

A review is presented of 31 neonates operated upon for various types of congenital duodenal obstruction during the ast twenty years. The detailed and overall mortality was analysed by dividing the material into a ten-year, and two five-year, periods. The mortality rate in the second five-year period (1972-1976) was found to be half that of the ten-year period (1956 to 1965). The operative technique (duodenoduodenostomy), the use of atraumatic silk sutures and transanastomic feeding tube are probably the most important factors leading to better survival. Most of the surviving patients have been followed up and have so far shown no complaints directly related to the operation.