Decreased Bowel Sounds in Pediatrics — Case | Pediatric Gastroenterology | SMLE Q#11886
SMLE Question #11886
Pediatrics
Pediatric Gastroenterology
Objective: OBJ-289
Last updated: February 2026
A full-term male neonate is admitted at 10 hours of life for progressive tachypnea and abdominal distension. He has not passed meconium since birth. The abdomen is distended but soft, with decreased bowel sounds and no peritoneal signs. Abdominal radiographs suggest distal intestinal obstruction, and a contrast enema shows a transition zone with proximal colonic dilation and a narrowed distal colon. What is the most appropriate initial management for this patient?
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