meconium ileus

ileus /il·e·us/ (il´e-us) intestinal obstruction.

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adynamic ileus  that due to inhibition of bowel motility.

dynamic ileus , hyperdynamic ileus spastic i.

mechanical ileus  that due to mechanical causes, such as hernia, adhesions, volvulus, etc.

meconium ileus  ileus in the newborn due to blocking of the bowel with thick meconium.

occlusive ileus  mechanical i.

paralytic ileus , ileus paraly´ticus adynamic i.

spastic ileus  mechanical ileus due to persistent contracture of a bowel segment.

ileus subpar´ta  that due to pressure of the gravid uterus on the pelvic colon.

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meconium ileus

n.

Intestinal obstruction in a newborn child following the thickening of meconium resulting from a lack of trypsin and associated with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas.

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meconium ileus,

obstruction of the small intestine in the newborn caused by impaction of thick, dry, tenacious meconium, usually at or near the ileocecal valve. Symptoms include abdominal distension, vomiting, failure to pass meconium within the first 24 to 48 hours after birth, and rapid dehydration with associated electrolyte imbalance. The condition results from a deficiency in pancreatic enzymes and is the earliest manifestation of cystic fibrosis. In uncomplicated cases in which perforation, volvulus, or atresia does not occur, the obstruction may be relieved by giving enemas with a contrast medium, such as a hypertonic solution of meglumine diatrizoate and sodium diatrizoate, under fluoroscopy. Fluid is replaced intravenously to prevent dehydration. If two or three enemas do not dislodge the obstruction, surgery is necessary. See also meconium plug syndrome.

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ileus [il´e-us]

failure of appropriate forward movement of bowel contents. It may be secondary to either mechanical obstruction of the bowel (mechanical ileus) or a disturbance in neural stimulation (adynamic ileus). Ileus is a surgical emergency that may or may not require surgical intervention; the cause needs to be established promptly.

Adynamic (or paralytic) ileus often accompanies peritonitis and is also found accompanying the colicky pains of gallstones or kidney stones; following spinal cord injury, pneumonia, or other generalized conditions; or being caused by peritoneal contamination by pus (from a perforated appendix) or acid (from a perforated ulcer). Mechanical ileus is that due to adhesions, ischemia, tumor, or stone and requires prompt decompression of the bowel to prevent perforation.

Symptoms. The principal symptoms of ileus are abdominal pain and distention, constipation, and vomiting in which the vomitus may contain fecal material. If the intestinal obstruction is not relieved, the circulation in the wall of the intestine is impaired and the patient appears extremely ill with symptoms of shock and dehydration.

Treatment. Distention of the abdomen is relieved by decompression, which involves intubation with a long, balloon-tipped tube (e.g., miller-abbott tube) that extends to the site of the obstruction, and use of constant suction. Because of the disruption in absorption of fluids and nutrients from the intestinal tract, fluids, electrolytes, and glucose are given intravenously. Surgical intervention to remove the cause of ileus is usually necessary when the obstruction is complete or the bowel is likely to become gangrenous. The type of surgical procedure will depend on the condition of the bowel and the cause of the obstruction. In some cases ileostomy or colostomy, either temporary or permanent, may be necessary. In cases of paralytic ileus due to causes other than contamination by pus or acid, tube decompression may be sufficient, but even in these patients, surgery may be needed to protect the bowel from overdistention and perforation. See also intestinal obstruction for patient care.

adynamic ileus that caused by inhibition of bowel motility; see ileus.

dynamic ileus (hyperdynamic ileus) spastic ileus.

mechanical ileus that caused by a mechanical cause, such as hernia, adhesions, or volvulus; see ileus.

meconium ileus ileus in the newborn due to intestinal obstruction by thick meconium.

paralytic ileus adynamic ileus.

spastic ileus that due to persistent contracture of a bowel segment.

ileus subpar´ta ileus due to pressure of the gravid uterus on the pelvic colon.

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meconium

yellow-orange mucilaginous material in the intestine of the full-term fetus; it constitutes the first stools passed by the newborn.

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meconium aspiration

aspiration of fragments of meconium into the pulmonary airways occurs in the fetus in the terminal stages of many infections.

meconium ileus

intestinal obstruction in the newborn due to the blocking of the bowels with thick meconium. This is an important disease of newborn colt foals. The syndrome is usually one of subacute abdominal pain, restlessness and straining, and a positive finding on rectal examination. Occasional cases show severe pain and tympany of the large intestine. Called also meconium retention.

meconium retention

see meconium ileus (above). See also impaction colic.

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meconium ileus

Meconium plug syndrome Obstetrics A condition characterized by obstruction of the neonatal intestine by meconium that may be confined to the ileus, a finding characteristic of cystic fibrosis Clinical Non-passage of stool in the first 2 days of life, vomiting, abdominal distension Complications Volvulus, intestinal infarction