title: Atresia of the colon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Colonic atresia (CA) is one of the rarest causes of neonatal intestinal obstructions, and no large series can be reported. Therefore, we did perform a retrospective clinical trial to delineate our CA cases and carry out a literature survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the charts of CA cases treated in our center between 1992 and 2002. We aimed to collect all reported cases in Medline, and personal communications with the authors of published series were used to reach the missing data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chart review revealed 9 newborns with CA treated in our center (6 cases of type III, 2 cases of type II, and 1 case of type IV). These accounted for 3.7% of all gastrointestinal atresias managed in our center. Of the CA cases, 3 were isolated and 6 had at least one or more associated congenital anomalies. The preferred surgical technique at the initial treatment of CA was performing a proximal stoma and distal mucous fistula in an average of postnatal 59.4 hours. The literature survey enabled us to reach 224 cases of CA, including our cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the low incidence of CA, delay in diagnosis and treatment may occur. The mortality is statistically higher when the surgical management is performed after 72 hours of age. However, the prognosis of CA is satisfactory if diagnosis and surgical management could be made promptly and properly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Adnan Menderes University, 09100 Aydin, Turkey. betensel@adu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Barlas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Etensel
authors.forename: Günyüz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Temir
authors.forename: Aytaç
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karkiner
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melek
authors.forename: Yeşim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Edirne
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mir
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003106:Colon / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003125:Colostomy; D004065:Digestive System Abnormalities / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007582:Jejunostomy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies