title: Intestinal obstruction due to dual gastrointestinal atresia in infants: diagnosis and management of 3 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several types of congenital lesions can cause complete or incomplete obstruction of the intestine. Our purpose is to present 3 neonates with dual intestinal type I atresia, i.e., simultaneous obstructive lesions at 2 locations in which the atresia manifested as diaphragm-like tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 3 cases were female infants ranging in age from 2 to 14 months. The common symptom in all cases was intermittent persistent vomiting. In some cases the vomitus was bilious, and other symptoms included abdominal distention and delayed meconium passage. Prior surgeries at another hospital were unsuccessful at relieving the symptoms in one case. One case had dual lesions in the colon, one dual lesions in the duodenum, and one atresia at both the distal portion of the ileum and the descending colon. Surgical exploration and removal of the lesions at our hospital was successful in all cases, and the infants were discharged in good condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type I atresia can manifest as a diaphragm-like tissue obstructing the continuity of gastrointestinal tract, and in rare cases multiple areas may be present. Base on the intermittent nature of the associated symptoms, diagnosis can be difficult and is often delayed. Physicians should be aware of this condition during the work-up of an infant with persistent intermittent vomiting.
authors.forename: Hua-dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.forename: Li-e
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhi-hai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Zhi-chong
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. liujcgd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jun-cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003106:Colon / Q000002:abnormalities; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000002:abnormalities; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007082:Ileum / Q000002:abnormalities; D007223:Infant; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate