CONGENITAL CHLORIDE DIARRHEA - A PRENATAL DIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS OF SMALL-BOWEL ATRESIA

We compared ultrasound findings and pre- and postnatal clinical signs in 8 patients with congenital chloride diarrhoea and 14 with small bow el atresia diagnosed in 1977-1991 in order to evaluate the possibility of a prenatal distinguishing diagnostic sign. In the patients with co ngenital chloride diarrhoea the pregnancy was complicated by marked po lyhydramnios, the symphysis-fundus distance exceeded +2 SD before gest ational week 31 and the fetus displayed normal peristalsis in extensiv ely dilated intestines and the ''frog position''. In the patients with small bowel atresia the symphysis-fundus distance was normal before g estational week 31 and the fetus displayed increased peristalsis in a few dilated intestinal loops.