Jejunal atresia secondary to intrauterine intussusception, presenting as acute perforation.

Intussusception in neonates is rare. The authors report the second case in the Western literature of neonatal intussusception presenting as pneumoperitoneum. A male infant was referred 30 hours after birth because of possible midgut volvulus after emesis and failure to pass meconium. An abdominal x-ray film revealed a large amount of free air in the peritoneal cavity. At operation a type 3 jejunal atresia was found, with a 2-mm perforation in the dilated proximal end and a viable intussusceptum just inside the distal end. The authors conclude that this case represents an atresia secondary to inutero intussusception, with perforation occurring after birth (secondary to air-swallowing and gastrointestinal secretions).