Meconium plug syndrome

Abstract

Meconium plug syndrome, also described as functional immaturity of the colon, is a transient disorder of the newborn colon characterized by the delayed passage (> 24–48 h) of meconium associated with intestinal dilatation. The retained meconium shows up on contrast enema as a filling defect or plug producing a double-contrast effect. Small left colon syndrome is a subset of the meconium plug syndrome where an enema demonstrates an apparent transition zone between dilated distal colon and colon of normal or decreased calibre at the splenic flexure [1].