Meconium Ileus

Abstract

Meconium ileus (MI) is neonatal intestinal obstruction caused by protein-rich, inspissated meconium in the terminal ileum. This viscid meconium adheres to the bowel wall, causing an intra-luminal obstruction (sometimes referred to as obturator-type obstruction). Its incidence is approximately 1:10,000 live births [1] within the white population but lower in other races. Historically, MI has been almost exclusively associated with cystic fibrosis (CF); however this dogma has been challenged by some published series that report 21–46% of their cases did not have CF [2, 3]. 10–20% of children born with CF present as MI [4, 5].