J Korean Surg Soc.
2002 Jan;62(1):77-81.
Meconium Peritonitis: 15 Cases Studies
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Sugery, Gachon Medical School, Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea. gs@ghil.com
Abstract
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PURPOSE: Meconium peritonitis is a form of aseptic, chemical peritonitis that results from a perforation of the gut during the intrauterine or perinatal period. The rarity of the disease resulted in few survivors up to the 1950's. However, the constantly increasing survival rate has followed an aggressive surgical management, along with a more thorough understanding of the etiological and pathological variations likely to be encountered. This study was performed to analyze our past 10 years' experience with meconium peritonitis.
METHODS
The hospital records of 15 patients treated between January 1991 to December 2000 were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS
The male to female sex ratio was 2:1, and the age at surgery varied from at the time of birth to 48 days. The clinical manifestations included marked abdominal distension (13 cases), respiratory distress (8 cases), billous vomiting (5 cases) and scrotal swelling (1 case). Radiological findings included air-fluid level (7 cases), calcification (4 cases) and pneumoperitoneum (3 cases). The prenatal ultrasonography demonstrated dilated loops of bowel, septated fetal ascites and calcification. The leading cause of perforation was small bowel atresia (8 cases). A primary end-to-end anastomosis was performed in 10 cases. Generalized type (8 cases) was the most common finding of meconium peritonitis. 86% of patients survived without long-term complications.
CONCLUSION
Early recognition and proper management offer the greatest opportunity for survival in cases of meconium peritonitis.
