Upper gastrointestinal tract obstruction due to congenital duodenal diaphragm

Abstract

The presence of incomplete upper gastrointestinal obstruction in childhood is a rare condition and usually indicates congenital anomaly. We reported a case of incomplete duodenal obstruction in a 16-year-old girl due to a congenital duodenal diaphragm. A duodenal diaphragm with an eccentric aperture was found by upper gastrointestinal series and endoscopic examination in the second part of the duodenum. The patient made an uncomplicated recovery with relief of the symptoms after duodenotomy and excision of the diaphragm. This case underlines that congenital duodenal diaphragm should be kept in mind as a possibility whenever chronic obstruction of the duodenum in childhood is diagnosed. The prognosis of congenital duodenal diaphragm is usually good after excision of the diaphragm, when not associated with other congenital anomalies.