title: Prenatal rectal perforation: an unsuspected cause of isolated ascites.
abstract: In fetal intestinal perforation, inflammation leads to production of ascites. Small bowel is usually involved by perforation with the distal ileum the most frequent site. We report the first case of prenatal perforation of the intraperitoneal part of the rectum, which presented as severe ascites at a 37 weeks' gestation antenatal ultrasonography. As none of the reported causes of intestinal perforation were identified in our case, its etiology remained idiopathic.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Neonatology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. germanacasaccia@hotmail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casaccia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giorlandino
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bagolan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal