Can you wait for a few weeks before having surgery for your child's intestinal atresia?

Days maby wks no: After birth, we rely on the intact digestive system to acquire fluids and nutrients & expell waste. Intentinal atresia prevents that. Within hours of birth this patient will need fluids and within 48hrs should have a nutrition source. It is reasonable to delay of surgery to transport the child to a site where advanced care (nicu) and surgical support are available.Further delay decreases survival.

No: True intestinal atresia, that is bowel that is discontinuous requires urgent operation. There are some circumstances such as following gastroschisis repair after which the diagnosis may be suspected but not confirmed. In that case surgery can be delayed until the diagnosis is clear.

In certain cases: In babies with duodenal atresia who have associated congenital heart disease, it is sometimes necessary to postpone the repair because of cardiac status. In these situations, the duodenum can be decompressed with a nasogastric tube, and the baby receives TPN for nutrition.