Clinical manifestations in infants with symptomatic meconium peritonitis.

Background: Meconium peritonitis (MP) develops when bowel perforation occurs in utero or soon after birth, resulting in leakage of meconium into the peritoneal cavity. The clinical features are often variable and prenatal ultrasonography plays an important role in prenatal diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of neonates diagnosed with MP in our hospital from January 1998 to December 2007.