Meconium ileus equivalent

Gastrointestinal involvement may present initially as small bowel obstruction shortly after birth (known as meconium ileus) due to abnormally thick meconium that cannot be passed. Older CF patients may develop distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), formerly called meconium ileus equivalent, which occurs due to fecal impaction in the terminal ileum and cecum. 

Godson C, Ryan MP, Brady HR, Bourke S, FitzGerald MX. Acute hypomagnesaemia complicating the treatment of meconium ileus equivalent in cystic fibrosis. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl 1988 143 148-50. 

Plain radiographs will show a proximal small bowel obstruction with faecal impaction in the terminal ileum and caecum (Fig. 5.27). The term meconium ileus equivalent should be discarded. 

---