Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis in the Absence of Pneumatosis Intestinalis

Analysis of bowel perforation in necrotizing enterocolitis

“…In a review of 44 cases, Yu and co-workers found evidence of bowel perforation (free air) on the initial abdominal radiograph in eleven of fifteen NEC infants [4]. Kliegman had similiar results with 46% showing perforation at the time of the first film or during the first 12 hours after diagnosis [5]. In our series only 3 patients had radiographic evidence of perforation on the first abdominal radiograph and nearly one half of the perforations occurred between 20 and 30 h after diagnosis.…”

Nekrotisierende Enterokolitis (NEC): Symptomatologie, Diagnostik und therapeutische Konsequenzen

“…Da eine NEC auch ohne die typischen radiologischen Zeiehen auftreten kann [13], wurde bei allen Kindern, die aufgrund einer Darmperforation in der Neonatalperiode operiert werden muBten, eine histologische Untersuchung der erkrankten Darrnabschnitte durchgeffihrt. Wfihrend bei den Patienten mit einem Geburtsgewicht fiber 1 500 g der fibliche Nahrungsaufbau vom 1.…”

Tattoos, incarceration and hepatitis B and C among street-recruited injection drug users in New Mexico, USA: update

“…First the authors admit explicitly to having included as NEC cases neonates not conforming to Bell's case definition [4], justifying this decision by quoting other studies [8][9][10][11][12][13]. However in these studies babies without clear signs of pneumatosis intestinalis on X-ray were included on the basis of a common isolated aetiological infective agent [8][9][10] which was not the case in the outbreak under review.…”

“…They also refer to a study showing that among 136 patients with strictly documented NEC, 19 had never demonstrated pneumatosis intestinalis. However 15 out of these 19 (79 %) patients died of NEC complications and the remaining four had NEC confirmed from surgically resected tissue [11].…”