Ebubechukwu G., 1

One-day-old Ebubechukwu Godbless is the first child of a humble family. Her father is a bricklayer and the family’s main provider, while her mother is a full-time housewife caring for the newborn. During pregnancy, Ebubechukwu’s mother attended antenatal care at General Hospital, Sabon Tasha, where a scan detected a congenital anomaly. She was advised to deliver at a specialist facility and later delivered Ebubechukwu at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital. Shortly after birth, the baby began vomiting, with fluids coming through her nose instead of passing normally through the digestive tract. Following medical examination, she was diagnosed with duodenal atresia, a congenital condition in which part of the small intestine is blocked, preventing the normal passage of food and fluids. She requires specialist care and timely treatment to prevent serious complications.

It’s surgical emergency as it requires surgical opening the abdomen and fixing the defect (laparotomy + duodenodudenostomy), Prognosis is good with urgent intervention, however, delay may lead to severe dehydration, failure to thrive and possibly death. Post surgical complications may include anastamotic leak, short bowel syndrome and surgical site infection. If left untreated, duodenal atresia can cause persistent vomiting, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, poor nutrition, intestinal complications, and serious infection, making prompt specialist treatment essential for the baby’s survival and recovery.