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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether bedside ultrasound (BUS) as the first imaging modality allows an earlier diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) compared with abdominal radiography. STUDY DESIGN: A before-after controlled study in preterm infants with suspected NEC. The intervention group (October 2019-October 2021) received BUS as the first imaging modality and was managed accordingly to BUS findings. The control group (October 2015-September 2019) received radiography as the first imaging modality. The main outcome was NEC confirmation at the time of initial imaging. Secondary outcomes included time to diagnosis, laboratory data, and treatment requirements. RESULTS: Thirty-five episodes of suspected NEC with 14 (40%) confirmed NEC cases and 49 episodes of suspected NEC with 22 (44.9%) confirmed NEC cases were included in the intervention and control groups, respectively. In the intervention group, 11 of 14 (78.6%) NEC cases were confirmed at initial evaluation compared with 5 of 22 (22.7%) in the control group (p = 0.001). Infants in the intervention group developed thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy less frequently, were exposed to less radiation, and required less days of parenteral nutrition compared with the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of BUS as the first imaging modality allowed an earlier diagnosis and timely treatment of NEC compared with abdominal radiography.Key Points · This is the first study that has assessed the role of BUS as the first imaging modality in NEC.. · BUS improves early diagnosis of NEC compared with abdominal radiography.. · BUS shortens time to NEC confirmation and treatment initiation which may reduce clinical severity of the NEC episode..
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BACKGROUND: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C) has been described as a novel and often severe presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. We aimed to describe the characteristics of children admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) presenting with MIS-C in comparison with those admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection with other features such as COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: A multicentric prospective national registry including 47 PICUs was carried out. Data from children admitted with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or fulfilling MIS-C criteria (with or without SARS-CoV-2 PCR confirmation) were collected. Clinical, laboratory and therapeutic features between MIS-C and non-MIS-C patients were compared. RESULTS: Seventy-four children were recruited. Sixty-one percent met MIS-C definition. MIS-C patients were older than non-MIS-C patients (p = 0.002): 9.4 years (IQR 5.5-11.8) vs 3.4 years (IQR 0.4-9.4). A higher proportion of them had no previous medical history of interest (88.2% vs 51.7%, p = 0.005). Non-MIS-C patients presented more frequently with respiratory distress (60.7% vs 13.3%, p < 0.001). MIS-C patients showed higher prevalence of fever (95.6% vs 64.3%, p < 0.001), diarrhea (66.7% vs 11.5%, p < 0.001), vomits (71.1% vs 23.1%, p = 0.001), fatigue (65.9% vs 36%, p = 0.016), shock (84.4% vs 13.8%, p < 0.001) and cardiac dysfunction (53.3% vs 10.3%, p = 0.001). MIS-C group had a lower lymphocyte count (p < 0.001) and LDH (p = 0.001) but higher neutrophil count (p = 0.045), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (p < 0.001), C-reactive protein (p < 0.001) and procalcitonin (p < 0.001). Patients in the MIS-C group were less likely to receive invasive ventilation (13.3% vs 41.4%, p = 0.005) but were more often treated with vasoactive drugs (66.7% vs 24.1%, p < 0.001), corticosteroids (80% vs 44.8%, p = 0.003) and immunoglobulins (51.1% vs 6.9%, p < 0.001). Most patients were discharged from PICU by the end of data collection with a median length of stay of 5 days (IQR 2.5-8 days) in the MIS-C group. Three patients died, none of them belonged to the MIS-C group. CONCLUSIONS: MIS-C seems to be the most frequent presentation among critically ill children with SARS-CoV-2 infection. MIS-C patients are older and usually healthy. They show a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and shock and are more likely to receive vasoactive drugs and immunomodulators and less likely to need mechanical ventilation than non-MIS-C patients.