Gastrointestinal sediment layering. A useful sign for the prenatal sonographic diagnosis of fetal intestinal obstruction.

An instance of fetal intestinal obstruction uncovered during serial sonography in a pregnancy complicated by previous jejunoileal bypass is discussed. The presence of abnormal cystic structures with a gravity-dependent sediment layering effect within the fetal abdomen provided a useful, and possibly specific, sign in the diagnosis of fetal gastrointestinal obstruction.