Transient Bowel Ischaemia of the Fetus

Objective: To discover the different underlying conditions in 2 fetuses suffering from temporary bowel ischaemia. Methods: Abnormal bowel findings were detected using antenatal sonography. Results: The abnormal bowel findings disappeared postnatally. Transient ischaemia of the fetal bowel due to different causes has been advocated antenatally to explain the abnormal findings. When a normal blood supply to the bowel has been restored, either in utero or after birth, the abnormal findings disappear. Conclusions: Whenever gut dilatation is detected in a fetus at risk of bowel ischaemia the possibility of a transient functional finding must be considered.