Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Jejunal Atresia: A Case Report

Intestinal atresia is the result of fetal bowel maldevelopment which leads to congenital bowel obstruction. It is a common cause of ileus of the newborn and can occur at any site of the gastrointestinal tract. Prenatal diagnosis relies on the demonstration of dilated loops of the fetal bowel and the presence of polyhydramnios at the end of the second or more frequently the third trimester of pregnancy. This condition requires surgical correction soon after birth, with timely diagnosis improving the prognosis. Here, we present the case of a fetus diagnosed with jejunal atresia at 33 weeks of pregnancy.

Automated summary

Intestinal atresia is a common cause of congenital bowel obstruction resulting from fetal bowel maldevelopment. Prenatal diagnosis is crucial and surgical correction soon after birth is necessary for improving prognosis.