Neonatal intestinal obstruction: antenatal diagnosis and postnatal management

ABSTRACT

The increased use of ultrasonography in the evaluation of pregnancy has provided a unique opportunity to diagnose fetal abnormalities in utero. This study includes 24 neonates referred over the past 3 years for management of their antenatally diagnosed intestinal obstruction. The postnatal work up included immediate resuscitation, confirmation of the diagnosis and timely intervention. One infant died soon after birth due to associated malformations. In the remaining 23 patients, surgical interventions yielded favorable results. The value of antenatal diagnosis of intestinal obstruction is emphasized for alerting the obstetrician, the pediatrician and the pediatric surgeon to avoid delayed diagnosis and management and decreasing the neonatal morbidity and mortality rates