A term baby with normal antenatal scans was postnatally diagnosed as having oesophageal atresia (OA) with tracheoe-sophageal fistula and an imperforate anus. The child had an umbilical venous catheter inserted, which was removed prior to surgery on day 2 of life. The OA was repaired and a divided colostomy was created. On day 8 postop, the nurse caring for the child enquired 'How do we look after the third stoma?' (The nurse noted a third stoma at the umbilicus.) On examination, there was a protrusion from the umbilicus that resembled a perfectly formed stoma. No discharge was noted. A 6 Fr feeding tube inserted into this stoma revealed intestinal contents demonstrating that this was a patent vitello-intestinal duct. This stoma is currently under observation and it will be excised at the time of future laparotomy.
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