Abstract
Fetal intestinal atresia (IA) presents as multiple dilated bowel loops. We report two cases of IA that presented as multiple swirling cysts and dilated bowel loops followed by fetal ascites and calcification in the abdomen on prenatal sonography. A 27-year-old woman presented with fetal dilated bowel loops at 25 gestational weeks. Sonography revealed a dilated bowel loop around a highly echogenic area along with multiple cysts and fetal ascites. Because prenatal ultrasonography at 37 weeks showed a highly echogenic small intestine, calcification in the abdomen, and no fetal ascites, fetal meconium peritonitis after intestinal perforation was suspected. At 38.4 weeks, a male infant weighing 2,270 g was delivered by caesarian section. A 30-year-old woman presented with fetal dilated, swirling bowel loops and fetal ascites at 29 gestational weeks. Because prenatal ultrasonography at 36 weeks showed dilated bowel loops, a highly echogenic small intestine, calcification, and no fetal ascites, fetal meconium peritonitis after intestinal perforation was suspected. At 38.6 weeks, a female infant weighing 2,958 g was delivered transvaginaly. In both the cases, IA and meconium peritonitis were confirmed at laparotomy. If looped dilatation of fetal intestines is suspected from fetal ultrasonography findings, changes in ultrasonographic findings that indicate IA, intestinal perforation, and meconium peritonitis should be anticipated.
