In utero bowel perforation

Last revised by Sachi Hapugoda on 12 Oct 2017

In utero bowel perforation results in a chemical peritonitis (meconium peritonitis) from peritoneal leakage of sterile meconium.

It can result from many causes which include:

The estimated incidence is variable, ranging ~1 in 3000-35,000 births.

Recognized risk factors include:

  • maternal narcotic cocaine consumption 2

The typical features are those of meconium peritonitis and include:

These are discussed in detail in that article.

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