Meconium plug syndrome

The clinical presentation of patients with small left colon syndrome is very similar to that of patients with meconium plug syndrome. Air-fluid levels are often absent in the upright film, particularly prior to 48 h of life. Soap bubble meconium is typically seen in the collapsed left colon on the plain film, and the distended bowel tends to be less than that seen in atresias. The contrast enema reveals a normal or slightly dilated colon and rectum but... 

Fig. 1.33a-d. Meconium plug syndrome. Anteroposterior (a) and lateral (b) plain radiographs show distension of bowel loop consistent with low obstruction. c Isosmolar water-soluble contrast enema, lateral view outlines the characteristic long filling defect (arrows) within the colon, d Clinical image of a meconium plug surgically obtained in a patient in whom several attempts to conservatively solve the obstruction failed... 

Hussain SM, Meradji M, Robben SG et al (1991) Plain film diagnosis in meconium plug syndrome, meconium ileus and neonatal Hirschsprung s disease. A scoring system. Pediatr Radiol 21 556-559... 

As in meconium ileus, there is a motility disturbance of the bowel. However, it can also be related to absorption problems if inadequate feeding formula is used (so-called milk curd syndrome) (Devos and Meradji 2003). Clinical symptoms are similar to meconium plug syndrome or meconium ileus and are those of obstruction, such as progressive vomiting, progressive abdominal distension and failure to pass stools. Sometimes a mass can be felt in the (right) side of the abdomen. 

Functional Immaturity of the Colon (Small Left Colon and Meconium Plug Syndrome) 207... 

Historically meconium plug syndrome and small left colon syndrome have been considered as separate, if possibly overlapping, entities. The main finding in both entities is that of a narrow recto-... 

Berdon WE, Slovis TL, Campbell JB et al (1977) Neonatal small left colon syndrome its relationship to agan-glionosis and meconium plug syndrome. Radiology 125 457-462... 

Carty HML (2002) Paediatric emergencies non-traumatic abdominal emergencies. Eur Radiol 12 2835-2848 Clatworthy H, Howard W, Lloyd J (1956) The meconium plug syndrome. Surgery 39 132-141 Currarino G, Coin D, Votteler T (1980) Triad of anorectal, sacral and presacral anomalies. AJR Am J Roentgenol 137 395-398... 

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