What is the recovery process after duodenal atresia surgery?

What is the recovery process after duodenal atresia surgery?

After surgery, babies recover in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It may take a week or more until their intestines wake up and are ready to feed. During that time, a tube will be kept in place to decompress the stomach of any air and fluid. Some babies also need mechanical ventilation for a few days to help them breathe.

Babies can leave the hospital when they are able to take all their food by mouth and are gaining weight. Usually, babies stay in the hospital for two to three weeks. Length of hospital stay varies depending on whether or not other conditions have been diagnosed in association with the duodenal atresia.