Postinfancy Intestinal Obstruction in Children With Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

INTESTINAL obstruction from inspissation of abnormal intestinal contents may occur after the neonatal period in patients with cystic fibrosis. Since these fecal masses are thick and putty-like, resembling the meconium of the neonate, the term "meconium ileus equivalent" has been proposed for this condition in the older infant and child.¹ Thirty-five cases of meconium ileus equivalent have been reported in 34 patients (Table 1). The present report describes an additional seven episodes which occurred in six of 250 children with cystic fibrosis treated at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco. Materials and Methods The records of all children with proved cystic fibrosis admitted to the hospital from January 1942 to March 1964 were studied. Six patients had episodes of intestinal obstruction, suspected clinically and proved by operation or roentgenographic examination. They ranged in age from 16 months to 18 years. Three of the patients were boys and three were girls. Six additional patients in whom