Laparo-Assisted Treatment of Intestinal Atresia: a single center experience

Introduction Jejuno-ileal atresia is the most common cause of congenital intestinal occlusion in newborns and the duodenal atresia is the most common cause of high bowel obstruction in the neonatal period. Nowadays the minimally invasive approach has been widely diffused and these surgical options are possible: circumbilical incision, the video-assisted and totally laparoscopic treatment. We present our experience with the video-assisted approach for the correction of intestinal atresias. Material and Methods Seventeen patients with bowel atresia were treated by video-assisted procedure at our Institution. Surgical procedures consisted of identifying and exteriorization of the affected tract followed by traditional bowel atresia correction outside the abdomen. Results All cases were successfully completed. There were no conversions to open surgery. One patient required a second procedure for an incomplete distal web that hadn’t been previously identified and another one experienced occlusion for intra-abdominal adhesions. Discussion and Conclusions Our study supports the value of laparoscopy in the management of small bowel atresia providing a definitive diagnosis and directing subsequent surgical approach. The video assisted technique for the correction of small bowel atresia is safe, effective, and adds the advantages of the classic laparotomic procedure to the laparoscopic ones.