THE PROXIMAL MESENTERIC FLAP - A METHOD FOR CLOSING LARGE MESENTERIC DEFECTS IN JEJUNAL ATRESIA

In selected patients with jejunal atresia, closure of the associated l arge mesenteric defect remains a technical problem. A case of jejunal atresia is reported in which a segment of dysfunctional proximal jejun um was resected and its mesentery retained, creating a flap of mesente ric tissue that was used to close a large defect. This technique allow ed the closure of the mesenteric defect with a decreased chance of inj ury or kinking of the tenuous distal mesenteric vessels, improved orie ntation and stabilization of the distal bowel, and, theoretically, imp roved blood flow to the distal segment.