Gastrointestinal pathology: Small intestine: Meconium ileus

A 1980 operative resection specimen from an infant delivered after a normal pregnancy, immediately noted to have a distended abdomen and intestinal obstruction. At operation the ileum was occluded by a meconium plug and had undergone torsion. Resection with ileostomy was performed at 6 hours of age. The patient recovered post operatively. The baby was found to have a sweat sodium of 115 mmol/L (normal range 15-40 mmol/L), cystic fibrosis was diagnosed. Three years later the child had typical problems of cystic fibrosis, with failure to grow despite oral replacement of pancreatic enzymes and repeated chest infections.