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Online ISSN
1305-3124

Established
1993

Editors-in-Chief
​Cihat Şen, ​Nicola Volpe

Editors
Cecilia Villalain, Daniel Rolnik, M. Mar Gil

Managing Editors
Murat Yayla

Statistics Editor
Resul Arısoy

Prenatal diagnosis of intestinal atresia

Mustafa Ozturk, Aytekin Aydın

Article info

Prenatal diagnosis of intestinal atresia. Perinatal Journal 2014;22(Suppl):SE27-28 DOI: 10.2399/prn.14.S001084

Author(s) Information

Mustafa Ozturk,
Aytekin Aydın

  1. Etimesgut Askeri Hastanesi- Ankara TR
Correspondence

Mustafa Ozturk, Etimesgut Askeri Hastanesi- Ankara TR,

Publication History
Conflicts of Interest

No conflicts declared.

We present an unusual case in which diagnosis was made shortly after bowel perforation at 33 weeks of gestation and definitive surgery was performed following prompt Caesarean delivery.
A 33-year-old woman, gravida 3 para 2, was referred to our center at 33 weeks of gestation because of antenatal control. Ultrasound examination at admission showed presence of an cystic structure in the fetal abdomen, that was consistent with intestinal dilatation. The fetal growth parameters, placental structure and amniotic fluid volume were all normal. Detailed ultrasound examination of fetal anatomy revealed no additional abnormalities. One week later repeat ultrasound scan showed collapse of the bowel dilatation along with the presence of hyperechogenic fluid in the fetal abdominal cavity. Both parents were counseled regarding the possible diagnosis of fetal intestinal perforation and meconium peritonitis. Caesarean section was preferred as delivery mode due to previous Caesareans. A 2400 gram baby boy was delivered. Apgar scores were 8 and 9 at 1 and 5 min, respectively. Laparotomy and bowel resection were performed within the first day following delivery. The operative findings were atresia of terminal ileum, with a perforation in the distal segment of it, and intraabdominal meconium.
It is not clear appropriate delivery time and treatment modality after prenatal identification of the problem. But meconium contains digestive enzymes that induce aseptic peritonitis. Extensive inflammation could inhibit spontaneous sealing of the perforation and inflammation-induced bowel edema could aggravate the underlying bowel obstruction. Morbidity and mortality in meconium peritonitis cases depend upon gestational age, the complexity and the nature of the underlying lesion, process interval, presence of the cystic fibrosis or congenital anomalies, and complications of treatment or expectant management.
Keywords

Intestinal atresia, Meconium peritonitis

File/Dsecription
Figure 1
Cystic dilatation of bowel