Intestinal Obstruction in the Newborn with Special Reference to Transient Functional Ileus Associated with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Surgical advances over the last half century have steadily reduced the mortality from intestinal obstruction in the newborn. However, transient intestinal obstruction of functional rather than anatomical origin is not uncommon in the first few days of life. As surgery may be strongly contraindicated in this group, the differential diagnosis is extremely important. It is hoped that the following study of this problem made in a maternity hospital may indicate some of the clinical signs of value in the differential diagnosis.