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Objective: To assess the availability of ultrasound as a predictive tool of prognosis for the prenatally found dilated small bowels.
Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2010, total 15 patients with dilated fetal small bowel by ultrasound were enrolled in this study. All cases were confirmed by postnatal surgery or radiologic evaluation.
Results: Prenatal ultrasound identified 15 fetuses with the appearance of dilated bowel and 8 neonates required postnatal surgical treatment. The dilated bowel diameters varied from 9 to 20 mm and showed little correlation with the outcome. Except the case of gastric teratoma, 7 neonates with prenatal double bubble sign required prompt operation. Polyhydramnios were found in 7 fetuses and, 5 of them required early postnatal surgical treatment.
Conclusion: Prenatal ultrasound is the primary tool for the diagnosis of fetal small bowel abnormalities. Considering all the accompanying abnormal finding, development of numeric scale for the prediction of outcome is suggested.