Progressive perinatal bower obstruction - A rare cause of short-bowel syndrome

A girl was born after an uneventful pregnancy of 36 weeks. Prenatally, dist ended bowel loops had been seen on ultrasound. Multiple small-bowel atresia was diagnosed and treated surgically. In the course of the next eleven wee ks, previously patent segments of small bowel became obstructed. In 4 separ ate operative sessions, several segments of jejunum and ileum were resected , leaving 23 cm of ileum with the ileocecal valve in place. On microscopic examination of all resected material, necrosis of the mucosa was found cons istent with ischemia. The child survived and tolerated full enteral feeding at the age of 8.5 months. The origin of the progressive obliterating proce ss remains unknown.