Oral N - Acetyl Cysteine for Meconium Ileus of Preterm Infants

Abstract

Objective: Meconium ileus of preterm infant is a kind of intestinal obstruction. There is no standard medical treatment of meconium ileus of preterm infant.

Study Design: During the study period, preterm infants under 1250 g and have clinical signs of meconium obstruction were retrospectively included in the study. In the first two days, rectal saline and metoclopramide started and if not respond these infants assigned to receive oral or rectal n-acetyl cysteine and control group remained to receive a saline enema.

Results: One hundred and twenty-one infants were included in the study. Thirty-four of them received oral n-acetyl cysteine (group 1) and fifty-two had treated with rectal n-acetyl cysteine (group 2), thirty-five of them served as a control group (group 3). The mean gestational ages were 28, 28, 27 weeks and birthweights were 942, 1010, 965 grams for group 1 & 2 & 3 respectively. There was a difference between groups for reaching full enteral feedings (13 ±2, 13 ±3, 15±3, group 1 & 2 & 3 respectively, p=0.001).

Conclusion: According to this study, it can be stated that orally administered n-acetyl cysteine is tolerable and as effective as rectal n-acetyl cysteine when used for MIPI.