Tube enterostomy in the management of intestinal atresia.

A simple technique was used successfully for retraining maximum bowel length in a premature baby born with type 3A jejunal atresia. Primary end-to-end anastomosis of the tip of the dilated proximal segment to the remaining viable distal 5 cm of ileum was performed. A tube passed via the cecum proximally into the small bowel acted as a stent for the anastomosis and decompression of the bowel contents in the proximal dilated segment. This simple method may be a viable option to avoid resection of the dilated segment when the bowel length is marginal.