[Value of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and evaluation of disease severity].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of abdominal ultrasound in diagnosing neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and its significance in evaluating the disease severity. METHODS: The clinical data of 84 neonates who were diagnosed with NEC between July 2013 and January 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the modified Bell-NEC staging criteria, these neonates were divided into a suspected NEC group (n=44) and a confirmed NEC group (n=40); according to clinical prognosis, they were divided into a medical treatment and full recovery group (n=58) and a surgery/death group (n=26). The changes in the results of abdominal ultrasound and abdominal X-ray plain film were compared between groups. RESULTS: In the confirmed NEC group, abdominal ultrasound showed significantly higher detection rates of portal venous gas and dilatation of the intestine than abdominal X-ray plain film (P<0.05). Compared with the medical treatment and full recovery group, the surgery/death group had significantly higher detection rates of dilatation of intestine, bowel wall thickening, peritoneal effusion and free intraperitoneal air (P<0.05). Dilatation of the intestine and free intraperitoneal air shown by abdominal X-ray plain film were more common in the surgery/death group. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal ultrasound is useful for the diagnosis of NEC. Ultrasonic findings can contribute to the prediction of the severity of NEC.