Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Colonic and Rectal Atresias

Pediatric Surgery

  • 230 Accesses

Abstract

Colonic and rectal atresias are very rare. Both have been considered to be the result of insufficient blood supply during intrauterine life. Rectal atresia is included in classifications of anorectal malformations. Colonic and rectal atresia both present as neonatal bowel obstruction. The diagnosis of colonic atresia is usually suspected on plain abdominal radiographs. A contrast enema is useful to show a microcolon. Rectal atresia is suspected in neonates with bowel obstruction, where it is impossible to pass a catheter through the rectum, although the anus is normal. Colonic atresia is often operated with resection of dilated colon and primary anastomosis. In complicated cases, it is common to open a colostomy in the neonate and do the anastomosis later. There are several procedures for rectal atresias. Many investigators open a colostomy in the neonate and reconstruct the rectum through a posterior sagittal approach at a later stage. Long-term functional outcome is usually favorable in patients with colonic as well as rectal atresia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Akgur FM, Olguner M, Hakguder G, et al. Colonic atresia associated with Hirschsprung’s disease: it is not a diagnostic challenge. Eur J Pediatr Surg. 1998;8:378–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson N, Malpas T, Robertson R. Prenatal diagnosis of colon atresia. Pediatr Radiol. 1993;23:63–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arca MJ, Oldham KT. Atresia, stenosis, and other obstructions of the colon. In: Coran AG, Adzick NS, Krummel TM, Laberge J-M, Shamberger RC, Caldamone AA, editors. Pediatric surgery. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. p. 1247–53.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Barnard CN, Louw JH. The genesis of intestinal atresia. Minn Med. 1956;39:745–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benawra R, Puppala BL, Mangurten HH, et al. Familial occurrence of congenital colonic atresia. J Pediatr. 1981;99:435–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benson CD, Lotfi MW, Brough AJ. Congenital atresia and stenosis of the colon. J Pediatr Surg. 1968;3:253–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bland Sutton JD. Imperforate ileum. Am J Med Sci. 1889;98:457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boles ET, Vassy LE, Ralston M. Atresia of the colon. J Pediatr Surg. 1976;11:69–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chiba T, Albanese CT, Jennings RW, et al. In utero repair of rectal atresia after complete resection of a sacrococcygeal teratoma. Fetal Diagn Ther. 2000;15:187–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coran AG, Eraklis AJ. Atresia of the colon. Surgery. 1969;65:828–31.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davenport M, Bianchi A, Doig CM, Gough DCS. Colonic atresia: current results of treatment. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1990;35:25–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Defore WW, Garcia-Rinaldi R, Mattox KL, Harberg FJ. Surgical management of colon atresia. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1976;143:767–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • deVries PA, Dorairajan T, Guttman FM, et al. Operative management of high and intermediate anomalies in males. In: Stephens FD, Smith ED, Paul NW, editors. Anorectal malformations in children: update 1988. New York: Liss; 1988. p. 317–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorairajan T. Anorectal atresia. In: Stephens FD, Smith ED, Paul NW, editors. Anorectal malformations in children. New York: Liss; 1988. p. 105–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Asmar KM, Abdel-Latif M, El-Kassaby AA, Soliman MH, El-Behery MM. Colonic atresia: association with other anomalies. J Neonatal Surg. 2016;5(4):47.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Endo M, Hayashi A, Ishihara M, et al. Analysis of 1992 patients with anorectal malformations over the past two decades in Japan. J Pediatr Surg. 1999;34:435–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Etensel B, Temir G, Karkiner A, et al. Atresia of the colon. J Pediatr Surg. 2005;40:1258–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans CW. Atresias of the gastrointestinal tract. Int Abstr Surg. 1951;92:1–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fairbanks TJ, Kanard RC, Del Moral PM, et al. Colonic atresia without mesenteric vascular occlusion. The role of the fibroblast growth factor 10 signalling pathway. J Pediatr Surg. 2005;40:390–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman NV. Congenital atresia and stenosis of the colon. Br J Surg. 1966;53:595–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaub OC. Congenital stenosis and atresia of the intestinal tract above the rectum, with a report of an operated case of atresia of the sigmoid in an infant. Trans Am Surg Assoc. 1922;40:582–670.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauderer MWL, Izant RJ. String placement and progressive dilatations in the management of high membranous rectal atresia. J Pediatr Surg. 1984;19:600–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gross RE. The surgery of infancy and childhood. Philadelphia: W B Saunders Company; 1953. p. 348–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guttman FM, Braun P, Garance PH. Multiple atresias and a new syndrome of hereditary multiple atresias involving the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to rectum. J Pediatr Surg. 1973;8:633–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamrick M, Eradi B, Bischoff A, et al. Rectal atresia and stenosis: unique anorectal malformations. J Pediatr Surg. 2012;47:1280–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamzaoui M, Ghribi A, Makni W, et al. Rectal and sigmoid atresia: transanal approach. J Pediatr Surg. 2012;47:E41–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holschneider A, Hutson J, Pena A, et al. Preliminary report on the International conference for the development of standards for the treatment of anorectal malformations. J Pediatr Surg. 2005;40:1521–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim PCW, Superina RA, Ein S. Colonic atresia combined with Hirschsprung’s disease: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. J Pediatr Surg. 1995;30:1216–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim S, Yedlin S, Idowu O. Colonic atresia in monozygotic twins. Am J Med Genet. 2000;91:204–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lauwers P, Moens E, Wustenberghs K, et al. Association of colonic atresia and Hirschsprung’s disease in the newborn: report of a new case and review of the literature. Pediatr Surg Int. 2006;22:277–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Louw JH. Investigations into the etiology of congenital atresia of the colon. Dis Colon Rectum. 1964;7:471–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Louw JH, Barnard CN. Congenital intestinal atresia: observations in its origin. Lancet. 1955;2:1065–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo C-C, Ming Y-C, Chu S-M, et al. Individualized management of upper rectal atresia. J Pediatr Surg. 2009;44:2406–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magnus RV. Rectal atresia as distinguished from rectal agenesis. J Pediatr Surg. 1968;3:593–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen TL, Pham DH. Laparoscopic and transanal approach for rectal atresia: a novel alternative. J Pediatr Surg. 2007;42:E25–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peck DA, Lynn HB, Harris LE. Congenital atresia and stenosis of the colon. Arch Surg. 1963;87:86–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peña A. Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty: results in the management of 332 cases of anorectal malformations. Pediatr Surg Int. 1988;3:94–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peña A. Anorectal malformations. Semin Pediatr Surg. 1995;4:35–47.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peña A. Anorectal anomalies. In: Puri P, editor. Newborn surgery. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1996. p. 379–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peña A, DeVries PA. Posterior sagittal anorectoplasty: important technical considerations and new applications. J Pediatr Surg. 1982;17:796–811.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Philippart AI. Atresia, stenosis, and other obstructions of the colon. In: Welch KJ, Randolph JG, Ravitch MM, O’Neill JA, Rowe MI, editors. Pediatric surgery. 4th ed. Chicago/London/Boca Raton: Year Book Medical Publishers; 1986. p. 984–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potts WJ. Congenital atresia of intestine and colon. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1947;85:14–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Powell RW, Raffensperger JG. Congenital colonic atresia. J Pediatr Surg. 1982;17:166–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puri P, Fujimoto T. New observations on the pathogenesis of multiple intestinal atresias. J Pediatr Surg. 1988;23:221–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santulli TV, Schullinger JN, Kiesewetter WB, Bill AH. Imperforate anus: a survey from the members of the surgical section of the American Academy of Pediatrics. J Pediatr Surg. 1971;6:484–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stenström P, CementsonKockum C, Arnbjörnsson E. Rectal atresia-operative management with endoscopy and transanal approach: a case report. Minim Invasive Surg. 2011;2011(792402) doi:10.1155/2011/792402. EPub 2011 Apr 21.

  • Stephens FD, Smith ED. Anorectal malformations in children. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers; 1971a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens FD, Smith ED. Individual deformities in the male. In: Stephens FD, Smith ED, editors. Anorectal malformations in children. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers; 1971b. p. 33–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens FD, Smith ED. Classification, identification, and assessment of surgical treatment of anorectal anomalies. Pediatr Surg Int. 1986;1:200–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyaya P. Rectal atresia: transanal, end-to-end, rectorectal anastomosis: a simplified, rational approach to management. J Pediatr Surg. 1990;25:535–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyaya P. Rectal atresia. In: Puri P, editor. Newborn surgery. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1996. p. 395–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts AC, Sabharwal AJ, MacKinlay GA, et al. Congenital colonic atresia: should primary anastomosis always be the goal? Pediatr Surg Int. 2003;19:14–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webb CH, Wangensteen OH. Congenital intestinal atresia. Am J Dis Child. 1931;41:262–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zia-ul-Miraj Ahmed M, Brereton RJ, Huskinsson L. Rectal atresia and stenosis. J Pediatr Surg. 1995;30:1546–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Q3:03 Solna, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden

    Tomas Wester

Authors
  1. Tomas Wester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomas Wester .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, National Children’s Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland

    Prem Puri

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany

About this entry

Cite this entry

Wester, T. (2017). Colonic and Rectal Atresias. In: Puri, P. (eds) Pediatric Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_67-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_67-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-38482-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-38482-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Colonic and Rectal Atresias
    Published:
    26 February 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_67-2

  2. Original

    Colonic and Rectal Atresias
    Published:
    06 March 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_67-1

Search

Navigation