An examination of the birthweights of babies with some abnormalities of the alimentary tract.

The birthweights of patients with congenital anomalies of the intestinal tract have been examined. Cases of esophageal and duodenal atresia, malrotation of the midgut and anal anomalies have been chosen only if they were uncomplicated by any other major anomaly, and their weights plotted on the centile charts when the gestational age was known. The birthweights of cases of esophageal and duodenal atresia are clearly less than in cases of malrotation and anal malformation. This difference may be related to the function of the intestinal canal. Despite low birthweights in cases of esophageal atresia, the head circumference (OFC) shows a normal distribution.