INTESTINAL MALROTATION - EXPERIENCE WITH 56 PATIENTS

Intestinal malrotation is a common cause of upper gastro-intestinal ob struction and presents with duodenal obstruction caused by volvulus of the midgut loop. Patients are therefore at risk of catastrophic midgu t infarction and it is a more frequent cause of duodenal obstruction i n infants than duodenal atresia (92% in the neonatal period). Urgent u pper contrast studies under surgical supervision are necessary in thos e patients whose plain films are not diagnostic. Rectal bleeding is an ominous sign, with 78% of patients having gangrenous bowel. Total mid gut infarction is incompatible with survival in a Third-World environm ent.