Modified circumumbilical approach for duodenal atresia repair : A scarless surgery

Background: Duodenal atresia is a common congenital anomaly causing neonatal intestinal obstruction. The definitive treatment is to restore the intestinal continuity. Laparotomy via upper transverse abdominal incision has been described by many authors as a standard approach for duodenal atresia repair. Here we report a case of newborn underwent duodenal atresia repair via modified circumumbilical approach with satisfactory postoperative outcome. Case presentation: This is a case of premature baby boy, born at 32-week gestation with a birth weight of 1.5kg. Antenatally he was detected to have double bubble sign which was confirmed upon postnatal abdominal radiograph, suggestive of duodenal atresia. He was noted to have a fleshy lump at the umbilicus presumed to be a patent vitello-intestinal duct from the referring hospital. Subsequently he developed umbilical swelling suspicion of umbilical hernia with incarceration and scheduled for emergency umbilical exploration. A circumumbilical incision was made and found to have an umbilical defect with omental herniation, instead of a patent vitello-intestinal duct. A proximal midline incision was made as an extension to the circumumbilical wound enabling a duodenal kocherization and subsequently had duodeno-jejujonostomy anastomosis for the duodenal atresia repair. Postoperative recovery was uneventful with appealing cosmesis. Conclusion: A modified circumumbilical incision is an attractive alternative approach for a duodenal atresia repair. Apart from its cosmetic advantage, the approach provides adequate exposure for similar outcome with transverse abdominal incision.