ABSTRACT
Early diagnosis is a decisive factor for the prognosis of these newborns, because the commencement of bacterial colonization of the meconium starts after birth. In a study carried out by the current authors in 134 normal newborns, meconium cultures were positive in 24% at 12 hours of life and in 86% at 72 hours.16 On the other hand, the laboratory studies carried out by the current authors already demonstrated the existence of a ‘meconium spreading factor’ which accelerates and worsens the sepsis. Owing to this, it is not then surprising that early diagnosis is of paramount importance. In the current authors’ series of 53 cases, the patients that were operated on after 36 hours of life had a mortality rate three times higher than those that were operated on during the first 24 hours of life (Table 50.3). Tibboel and Molenaar11 reported a 91% mortality rate for patients operated on after 48 hours of life.
