THE FOLLOWING case is reported because of its rarity.
Report of a Case
The infant, a girl weighing 2.83 kg (6.24 lb), was the second child of Papuan parents. Delivery had been by cesarean section at term for a major degree of placenta praevia, and no hydramnios had been noted prior to delivery. Physical examination of the child showed a slight anal dimple but no anal orifice. No other abnormality was detected on external examination. A straight x-ray film of the abdomen with the infant inverted showed a large gap from the anal dimple to gas in the colon. Thirty-six hours after birth an intravenous infusion was commenced via the umbilical vein, and the perineum was explored under a general anesthetic. Perineal exploration failed to reach the rectum so a laparotomy through a transverse lower abdominal incision was performed. The ileum was grossly distended and this terminated in a blind