Does prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis have the better recovery? A single-center over 10 years of experience

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether infants with prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis (MP) have a poorer prognosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from infants treated with surgery from January 2008 to December 2020 was conducted. The patients were divided into prenatal diagnosis group and postnatal diagnosis group based on the timing of diagnosis. The intraoperative and postoperative parameters of the two groups of patients were compared. Results: A total of 71 cases of MP were included in the study, with 48 cases in the prenatal diagnosis group and 23 cases in the postnatal diagnosis group. The comparison of preoperative indicators between the two groups of patients showed no statistically signi cant differences in baseline (P>0.05). Intraoperative indicators, including blood loss, anastomosis, retained intestinal tube length, and excised intestinal tube length, showed no statistically signi cant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the postnatal diagnosis group had a signi cantly shorter operation time than the prenatal diagnosis group (P<0.05). Postoperative indicators, including fasting time, albumin usage, complications, and abandonment or mortality rate (P>0.05). Nevertheless, the postnatal diagnosis group exhibited signi cantly shorter hospital stay and time to rst bowel movement compared to the prenatal diagnosis group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis of meconium peritonitis is associated with higher surgical di culty, longer hospital stay and delayed intestinal function recovery. However, there is no evidence of higher mortality rates or more complications compared to infants diagnosed postnatally, and there is no signi cant difference in long-term prognosis.