Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2026
Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
Correlation of prenatal ultrasound and postnatal outcome in meconium peritonitis
Ming-Kwang Shyu1, Jin-Chung Shih, Chien-Nan Lee
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Objectives:
To study the relationship between prenatal ultrasound features and postnatal course of meconium peritonitis.
Methods:
Meconium peritonitis was diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound. Fetuses were treated by intrauterine paracentesis of ascites when indicated, and symptomatic newborns received surgery.
Results:
Totally 17 cases were enrolled. Prenatal ultrasound findings include abdominal calcification (16/17), fetal ascites (12/17), hydramnios (9/17), pseudocyst (7/17) and dilated bowel loop (6/17). Persistent ascites, pseudocyst or dilated bowel loop are most sensitive (92%) to predict postnatal surgery (p = 0.022). The survivors have a higher gestational age at birth (36.4 vs. 33.3 weeks, p = 0.008). Persistent ascites and postnatal persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborns significantly correlate with neonatal mortality (p = 0.029 and 0.022).
Conclusion:
Prenatal ultrasound can predict the neonatal outcome in meconium peritonitis.
