Colon atresia
What is a colon atresia?
Anywhere along the length of the small intestine, including the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon, the intestine can form a blockage before an infant is born. This blockage usually occurs where one segment is not connected to the other segments, and is called an atresia (atre·sia).
What are the different types of a colon atresia?
- Colon
- Duodenal
- Jejunal and ileal
How is a colon atresia treated?
Infants with atresias require surgery to reconnect the segments that aren’t properly formed, allowing food to flow through the intestine all the way from the mouth to the rectum.