Delayed presentation of a duodenal web

Abstract

Abstract Duodenal atresia and web are common causes of intestinal obstruction in early infancy. Their incidence ranges between 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 40,000 live births. Unlike duodenal atresia which is diagnosed early, even antenatally; A web presents later depending on the size of the aperture in the web. It usually presents with bilious or non bilious vomiting. We present an unusual presentation of duodenal web in a three and a half years old boy who presented with a 12 months history of abdominal distension and vomiting every 2nd or 3rd day. Plain abdominal imaging showed radiopaque foreign bodies below the diaphragm. As the natural history for majority of ingested foreign bodies is natural passage; He was managed expectantly elsewhere. Eventually, 12 months later, the patient presented to our center where further investigation provided the diagnosis. He was treated surgically by excision of the web. Post operatively, TPN and a trans-anastomotic tube (TAT) were used until full recovery was achieved. A high index of suspicion is the key to reaching the true diagnosis in patients presenting after the neonatal period.