The cause of duodenal atresia is unknown but it is thought that damage to the duodenum , such as loss of blood supply during gestation causes the duodenum to lose tissue, narrow, and become obstructed. Duodenal atresia is present in approximately 1 out of 6,000 newborns. There is an increased association of duodenal atresia with Downs syndrome.
Infants born with duodenal atresia begin vomiting large amounts of material shortly after birth.
One or two initial meconium stools may be passed but no others. Untreated, these infants dehydrate and become critically ill very rapidly. Suggestion of duodenal atresia may be seen on routine ultrasound studies of the fetus. Suspected atresia may be diagnosed after birth with an X-ray . Surgery to fix of the duodenum is then performed.