Gastrointestinal malformation

Congenital anomalies of the digestive tract are the most common birth defects after congenital heart malformations and neural tube defects. They include structural and/or functional abnormalities of all organs from the mouth to the anus, including cleft lip, cleft palate, esophageal atresia, diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal malrotation, Hirschsprung disease, imperforate anus, and/or cloacal malformations. Most infants with digestive tract malformations present with vomiting, abdominal distension, reduced or absent bowel movements within hours to days after birth. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the vast majority of children can undergo surgical intervention after adequate preoperative preparation and achieve a good prognosis. Neonates presenting with digestive tract malformations account for the majority, approximately 40-50%, of all pediatric surgical neonatal consultations. In recent years, the incidence of digestive tract malformations combined with other severe malformations and multiple anomalies has increased, such as congenital anorectal malformations combined with congenital heart disease, spinal deformities, and urinary system malformations. This adds complexity to clinical treatment and also has a certain impact on the child's future quality of life. Early diagnosis and timely, correct management are particularly important for these patients. Overall, the prenatal diagnosis rate of digestive tract malformations is not very high, and digestive tract malformations are also the most commonly encountered diseases in the daily work of clinical neonatal surgery. Therefore, early diagnosis and early treatment of digestive tract malformations can improve the cure rate, reduce treatment costs, and improve the child's future quality of life.