Primary Repair of a Jejunal Atresia With Christmas Tree Deformity in a Preterm Infant.

Although uncommon in the general population, jejunoileal atresia (JIA) is a common cause of intestinal obstruction in infants. This congenital anomaly may cause a substantial reduction in intestinal length, enhancing the likelihood of short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure. A Christmas tree anomaly is an uncommon form of JIA, accounting for 5%-10% of all small intestinal atresia. A preterm male infant was admitted at our setting with signs of intestinal obstruction. The patient had features of proximal obstruction from abdominal x-ray results, prompting surgery. A jejunal atresia of type IIIb was ascertained intraoperatively. The surgical correction involved a primary anastomosis. He initially recovered well postoperatively and tolerated oral meals; nevertheless, his condition deteriorated, terminating in a fatal cardiac arrest. Our patient had multiple predisposing characteristics, notably a postoperative respiratory compromise, which exacerbated the prognosis. As such, improving neonatal care as well as adopting an early approach to managing these patients is critical for improving their prognosis.