It is not necessary, it is even a grave mistake, for a physician or for a parent to feel that a newborn infant presenting evidence of a complete obstruction of the small bowel offers a hopeless problem. While the prognosis cannot be spoken of as "good," with early diagnosis and prompt surgical management there is a fair chance of a complete recovery. Indeed, this field of endeavor offers a thrilling challenge to the diagnostic ability of the pediatrician and the technical ability of the surgeon.
Congenital lesions of the gastrointestinal tract producing obstruction at birth are most apt to occur at one of four sites: (1) the esophagus at about the level of the bifurcation of the trachea; (2) the duodenum close to the ampulla of Vater; (3) the lower portion of the ileum in the region of Meckel's diverticulum, and (4) the lower part of the rectum and the