**2.7 Postoperative complications**

Short-term complications are uncommon in infants with simple meconium ileus.

**81**

*Meconium Ileus*

equivalent" [32].

**3. Conclusion**

intervention.

infants.

None.

**Conflict of interest**

There is no "conflict of interest."

**Notes/thanks/other declarations**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85548*

Infants who have had significant (i.e., >33%) bowel resection may develop short

Short bowel syndrome predisposes to acidic intestinal environment that inactivates pancreatic enzymes and prevents dissolution of enteric-coated microcapsules. As such, histamine 2 receptor blockers are useful adjunct to pancreatic enzyme

Mucus plugging and atelectasis can occur postoperatively, hence the need to

High-dose pancreatic enzyme supplementation has been associated with the development of colonic strictures and distal intestinal obstruction syndrome. Long-term complications are mostly common to patients with cystic fibrosis. Some infants, especially those who had meconium peritonitis may present years

Some older patients have been known to develop bowel obstruction from inspissated stools in the ileum and colon; this condition is known as "meconium ileus

Meconium ileus is a cause of neonatal small intestinal obstruction which mainly affects the ileum and common in infants with cystic fibrosis. Contrast (gastrografin) enema is usually diagnostic and may sometimes be therapeutic. Infants who have unsuccessful management with enemas and those with complications related to the obstruction, including volvulus, perforation, or atresia, require operative

At laparotomy, a small enterotomy is done for those with simple meconium ileus to irrigate the bowel lumen with acetylcysteine solution and thus promote effective evacuation of the highly viscous meconium. Patients with complicated meconium ileus may require bowel resection with anastomosis or tube enterostomy or creation of a stoma. Various types of stomas have been described over the years for management of the disease, but the Bishop-Koop enterostomy seems to be widespread. Most patients respond well to therapy in the short-term but need to be followed closely for long-term complications like bowel obstruction, which has many potential causes in these patients. Advances in perinatal diagnosis and management of meconium ileus and cystic fibrosis have vastly improved the outlook for affected

bowel syndrome, especially if the ileocecal valve has been resected.

There are excessive fluid and sodium losses in those with stomas.

initiate vigorous prophylactic pulmonary care with chest physiotherapy.

later with bowel obstruction due to adhesions or segmental volvulus.

therapy in patients with significant bowel resections.

### *Meconium Ileus DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85548*

Infants who have had significant (i.e., >33%) bowel resection may develop short bowel syndrome, especially if the ileocecal valve has been resected.

Short bowel syndrome predisposes to acidic intestinal environment that inactivates pancreatic enzymes and prevents dissolution of enteric-coated microcapsules. As such, histamine 2 receptor blockers are useful adjunct to pancreatic enzyme therapy in patients with significant bowel resections.

There are excessive fluid and sodium losses in those with stomas.

Mucus plugging and atelectasis can occur postoperatively, hence the need to initiate vigorous prophylactic pulmonary care with chest physiotherapy.

High-dose pancreatic enzyme supplementation has been associated with the development of colonic strictures and distal intestinal obstruction syndrome.

Long-term complications are mostly common to patients with cystic fibrosis. Some infants, especially those who had meconium peritonitis may present years later with bowel obstruction due to adhesions or segmental volvulus.

Some older patients have been known to develop bowel obstruction from inspissated stools in the ileum and colon; this condition is known as "meconium ileus equivalent" [32].
