Fetal meconium peritonitis without sequelae

Abstract

Meconium peritonitis is a chemical peritonitis usually resulting from antenatal bowel rupture. Prenatal ultrasound findings include ascites, intraabdominal masses, bowel dilatation and the development of intraabdominal calcifications [1–5]. The most common bowel disorders which lead to meconium peritonitis in utero are those resulting in bowel obstruction and perforation, such as small bowel atresias, volvulus and meconium ileus [1–5]. Meconium ileus is associated with cystic fibrosis in most cases, although extraluminal abdominal calcifications are usually scarce in cases of cystic fibrosis [1, 6]. Postnatal outcome for infants with meconium peritonitis depends on the etiology for bowel rupture and underlying disease.