S. typhi infection in congenital nephrotic syndrome

Meconium peritonitis: the role of postnatal radiographic and sonographic findings in predicting the need for surgery

BACKGROUND

The role of imaging in meconium peritonitis is not limited to establishing a diagnosis; rather, it might also be helpful in determining which neonates require surgery. However, few data in the literature correlate the postnatal radiographic and sonographic findings with the need for surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the role of postnatal radiographic and sonographic findings in predicting the need for surgery in neonates with meconium peritonitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical, imaging and surgical findings in all neonates with meconium peritonitis in the period 1999-2014. We divided the children into operative or non-operative groups and then correlated each group with the presence or absence of the following findings on both the radiographs and sonograms: peritoneal calcification, meconium pseudocyst, intestinal obstruction, volvulus, ascites and pneumoperitoneum.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven neonates (22 males, 15 females) had meconium peritonitis in this period, of whom 23 (62%) required surgery and 14 (38%) were successfully treated non-surgically. None had an antenatal infection and three had cystic fibrosis (8%). Bowel obstruction identified on radiography (12/23, P=0.01) and sonography (9/23, P=0.04) and ascites identified with sonography (7/23, P=0.01) were associated with the need for surgical intervention. The presence of pneumoperitoneum and volvulus were also associated with surgical intervention. There was no significant statistical difference in the number of neonates with diffuse peritoneal calcification who were treated operatively or non-operatively. Four (33%) of the 12 neonates with meconium pseudocysts were successfully treated non-operatively.

CONCLUSION

Imaging findings that predicted the need for surgery were intestinal obstruction, ascites, volvulus and pneumoperitoneum. Neonates with meconium pseudocysts did not require surgery if they were not associated with the described findings. The findings in our patients also indicate that those with diffuse peritoneal calcification as an isolated finding can be successfully treated non-operatively.

Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal management of meconium peritonitis

BACKGROUND

Meconium peritonitis (MP) is a rare prenatal condition that leads to substantial neonatal morbidity and mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients between 1998 and 2006 referred for prenatal diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed for diagnosis of MP. Prenatal ultrasound findings were compared with postnatal etiology, intraoperative findings, and postnatal outcome of the patients.

RESULTS

Antenatal MP was diagnosed in 14 fetuses between 18 and 38 weeks' gestation. The prenatal diagnosis of MP was confirmed by clinical and radiological findings in 8 (62%) of 13 infants born alive. All patients were delivered preterm between 33 and 36 weeks' gestation by cesarean section. Urgent neonatal surgery for treatment of bowel obstruction was required in all eight infants. Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of bowel dilatation was the only variable found to be associated with the need for subsequent surgical intervention (P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical outcome of MP diagnosed antenatally can be either mild or severe form. The underlying cause of severe MP is heterogeneous and neonatal surgery was always required.

"Growing" meconium cyst in one of a discordant twin: a case report

Introduction

Giant meconium cyst resulting from antenatal bowel perforation is rare and hardly reported in multiple gestations. We found only four documented cases in the electronic literature.

Case presentation

We report a giant meconium cyst in an 11-hour-old Nigerian boy of a discordant twin having ultrasonographic and plain radiographic diagnosis and surgical confirmation. Increasing abdominal girth from 35 cm to 41 cm within four hours of admission without ascites, pneumoperitneum and significant bowel distension make us assumed the meconium cyst to be “growing” in size. We reviewed the literature and proposed that where the fibrinous wall of meconium cyst allows for distensibility and the communication between the perforated bowel and meconium cyst persists, the meconium cyst acting as reservoir may continue to “grow” in size without remarkable intestinal distension probably, until the elastic limit is lost.

Conclusion

Meconium cyst can occur in twin pregnancy, grow to occupy the abdomen almost completely and may cause neonatal apnoea. The outcome is good post surgery.

Meconium peritonitis and pseudo-cyst formation: prenatal diagnosis and post-natal course

OBJECTIVES

Intra-uterine bowel perforation can occur secondary to a variety of abnormalities and cause sterile peritonitis in the fetus (generalised = type I). If sealing of the perforation does not take place, a thick-walled pseudo-cyst can form (type II).

METHODS

Over a 12-year period, 21 616 pregnancies were screened for gastro-intestinal malformations using prenatal ultrasound. We identified 1077 cases suspicious of surgically correctable malformations. Post-natal diagnoses and outcome were worked up retrospectively.

RESULT

We found 96 fetuses with suspected gastro-intestinal malformations. Prenatal bowel perforation with meconium peritonitis was confirmed in 11 cases. In 5 of these 11, the correct diagnosis had been predicted prenatally. One child presented as a fetal and neonatal emergency (case report). Ten of the eleven infants were operated on during their first day of life. Intra-operative findings were atresia (n = 4), meconium ileus (n = 6) and no obvious cause (n = 1). Two children suffered fatal complications.

CONCLUSION

Meconium peritonitis and meconium pseudo-cysts as its special manifestation are assessable by prenatal diagnosis but present in different ways. They can present as fetal ascites or echogenic bowel and cause fetal or neonatal distress, requiring close observation and highly specialised care.