Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
    Am Fam Physician. 1999 Nov 1;60(7):2043-50.

    Failure to pass meconium: diagnosing neonatal intestinal obstruction.

    Source

    University of Iowa School of Medicine, Iowa City, USA.

    Abstract

    Timely passage of the first stool is a hallmark of the well-being of the newborn infant. Failure of a full-term newborn to pass meconium in the first 24 hours may signal intestinal obstruction. Lower intestinal obstruction may be associated with disorders such as Hirschsprung's disease, anorectal malformations, meconium plug syndrome, small left colon syndrome, hypoganglionosis, neuronal intestinal dysplasia and megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome. Radiologic studies are usually required to make the diagnosis. In addition, specific tests such as pelvic magnetic resonance imaging, anorectal manometry and rectal biopsy are helpful in the evaluation of newborns with failure to pass meconium.

    PMID:
    10569507
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Free full text

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for American Academy of Family Physicians

      Save items

      loading

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk