abdominal distension

Ultrapremature

newborn with massive abdominal distension who has passed only a little meconium after 4 days. AXR AP (above) shows massively dilated loops of bowel throughout the entire abdomen. AXR AP taken at the beginning of an enema performed with water-soluble contrast (lower left) shows meconium filling almost the entire colon. AXR AP taken later in the exam (lower right) shows reflux of contrast into massively dilated loops of small bowel. Several hours after the enema, the patient passed a large amount of meconium and the abdomen became completely decompressed.