Meconium peritonitis in nigerian children
Ann. afr. med
;
7(4): 187-191, 2008. ilus
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1258995
ABSTRACT
Background:
Meconium peritonitis is a rare disease with a fatal outcome. In Nigeria and Africa; there are only the occasional case reports on the subject matter.Methods:
This is a 10-year retrospective study of all patients with meconium peritonitis treated at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; Maiduguri; Borno State; the Lagos University Teaching Hospital; Lagos State; Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex; Ile-Ife; Osun State and the Federal Medical Centre Gombe; Gombe State; Nigeria.Results:
There were 10 neonates comprising 6 girls and 4 boys. The median age at presentation was 4 days (range 2-6 days). Six of the mothers of the children with meconium peritonitis had a supervised antenatal care and 4 had antenatal ultrasonography but meconium peritonitis was missed. The most common clinical presentation was abdominal distension at birth in 9 of 10 patients. The abdominal X- rays showed calcification and homogenous opacity in 4 patients and pneumoperitoneum in 2 patients. At laparotomy; all the patients had inflammatory adhesion bands and matted bowel loops. The generalized type was the commonest form observed (7 patients) and giant pseudocyst was noted in 2 patients. The commonest sites of perforation were the ileum in 4 patients and jejunum in 3 patients. In one patient the perforation had sealed at laparotomy. Intestinal obstruction was the commonest cause of meconium peritonitis in 7 of 10 patients. In the remaining 3 patients the cause is unknown. The commonest procedure performed was resection and anastomosis (4 patients).The mortality rate was high (50).Conclusion:
Our data revealed the rarity of meconium peritonitis and intestinal obstruction as the commonest cause. It is recommended that in patients with an unidentifiable cause a rectal biopsy should be done to rule out Hirschsprung's disease. Early diagnosis; proper operative procedure and meticulous post-operative care should improve their survival
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Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Peritonitis
/
Prenatal Diagnosis
/
Infant, Newborn
/
Academic Medical Centers
/
Hirschsprung Disease
/
Meconium
/
Nigeria
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Screening study
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann. afr. med
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
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