Meconial intestinal obstruction in neonates treated with gastrografin

Eight cases with neonatal meconial intestinal obstruction are described. Four infants had concomitant cystic fibrosis, and the clinical picture was of meconium ileus of meconium plug syndrome. Three, and probably one more, did not have cystic fibrosis and fitted into the category of meconium disease. All eight cases were diagnosed and treated by means of a gastrografin enema. This procedure showed the characteristic filling defects in the small bowel and because of the high osmolality and the wetting effect of the agent, it dislodged and caused evacuation of the sticky meconium, avoiding an operation with a very high mortality. One patient died following perforation of the cecum during the procedure.