Meconium peritonitis secondary to torsion of fallopian tube cyst and transient central diabetes insipidus in a preterm infant

Clinical manifestations in infants with symptomatic meconium peritonitis

BACKGROUND

Meconium peritonitis (MP) develops when bowel perforation occurs in utero or soon after birth, resulting in leakage of meconium into the peritoneal cavity. The clinical features are often variable and prenatal ultrasonography plays an important role in prenatal diagnosis.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of neonates diagnosed with MP in our hospital from January 1998 to December 2007. Prenatal examinations, postnatal presentations, investigations, management, patient outcomes, and possible causes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Ten patients (five boys, five girls) diagnosed with MP were studied. The most common prenatal ultrasonographic finding was fetal ascites (7/10, 70%), followed by polyhydramnios (3/10, 30%), bowel dilatation (3/10, 30%), intra-abdominal calcification (1/10, 10%), and hydrops fetalis (1/10, 10%). Two of our patients were completely normal on prenatal ultrasonography. Only one MP diagnosis (1/10, 10%) was definitely confirmed by prenatal ultrasonography due to the presence of ascites, bowel perforation and intra-abdominal calcification. Nine patients (90%) required surgical intervention because of bowel perforation (5), bowel atresia (2), obstruction due to ileus (1), and intussusception (1). Peritonitis was of cystic type in one case (10%), fibroadhesive in five cases (50%), and generalized in four cases (40%). All 10 patients survived without long-term gastrointestinal complications.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal ultrasonography can be diagnostic for MP, which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with ascites or abdominal distension at birth. Close observation of postnatal clinical manifestations and timely surgical intervention resulted in a high survival rate and favorable outcome in these patients at our hospital.

An unusual cause of meconium peritonitis in a foetus

Meconium peritonitis is a sterile chemical peritonitis resulting from intestinal perforation in-utero. We present a preterm male neonate weighing 1820 g in whom foetal meconium peritonitis was diagnosed by antenatal utrasonogram. Examination of the newborn in the immediate postnatal period revealed a firm lump of size 5 x 3 cm in the right lumbar and umbilical area. Rest of the abdomen was normal without any clinical evidence of intestinal obstruction. X-ray of abdomen done at 3 hours of life showed a cystic mass with calcified margin. Ultrasonography of abdomen ruled out any definite cause of intestinal obstruction and perforation. He was kept on conservative management. At 11 hours of life the neonate passed a small sticky white mucus plug per rectum followed by black colored meconium of normal consistency 2 hours later. The bowel habit remained regular thereafter. Screening for intrauterine infections and cystic fibrosis was negative. He is under regular follow-up and is now 6 months old with normal bowel habit. A lump of size 2 x 2 cm is still palpable and a small calcified mass is persistent in x-ray. Role of an intestinal mucus plug as the potential factor for intestinal obstruction and subsequent perforation has been highlighted in the present case.

Experience with meconium peritonitis

BACKGROUND

Meconium peritonitis is a sterile chemical peritonitis resulting from intrauterine bowel perforation. With the development of neonatal care, the prognosis of meconium peritonitis improved much. We report our clinical experience.

METHODS

The medical records of patients with meconium peritonitis admitted to the Asan Medical Center from June 1989 to July 2006 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Of 41 patients (17 males, 24 females), 38 (92.7%) were suspected to suffer from meconium peritonitis prenatally, at a median gestational age of 32 weeks (range, 21-40 weeks). The most common prenatal sonographic finding was fetal ascites followed by dilated bowel. Ten patients were managed conservatively, but 31 patients underwent operations including resection and anastomosis (22), drainage procedure (4), ileostomy (3) and primary repair (2). The operative 31 cases comprised generalized (16), fibroadhesive (10), and cystic types (5). The main causes were intestinal atresia and idiopathic bowel perforation. The mortality rate was 2.4%, and the morbidity rate was 34.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

Good survival rate was achieved. But there was rather high morbidity. More gentle and delicate approach should be done to lower the morbidity.