Diagnostic Value Of Abdominal Ultrasound In Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Objective: Observing the difference between abdominal ultrasound in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC)and abdominal X-ray plain film,and analyzing the clinical value of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of NEC.Methods: Through the retrospective analysis of clinical data of 60 children who diagnosed with NEC,dividing them into NECⅡ stage group(n=38)and NECⅢ stage group(n=22)according to the modified Bell-NEC grading criteria;Then,further dividing them into NEC onset within 7 days group and NEC onset 8-14 days group;Next,they are divided into medical treatment group(n=46)and surgery/death group(n=14),observing and counting up abdominal X-ray plain film and abdominal ultrasound in children with differences in the performance of the two groups.Results: In the group of 7 days after the onset of NEC,23 cases of pneumatosis intestinalis and 9 cases of pneumatosis portalis were detected by abdominal ultrasonography which were significantly higher than those by abdominal X-ray plain film(x~2=8.35,P=0.004;x~2=6.98,P=0.008).There has no significant difference in the detection rate of pneumatosis intestinalis and pneumatosis portalis between abdominal ultrasound and abdominal X-ray in the 8-14 day group with NEC(P>0.05).The detection rate of abdominal wall thickening and peritoneal effusion by abdominal ultrasound in the medical treatment group was significantly lower than that in the surgery/death group(P<0.05).The detection rate of intestinal dilatation and free gas in abdominal cavity by abdominal X-ray plain film was significantly lower in the medical treatment group than in the surgery/death group(P<0.05).Conclusions: Comparing with abdominal X-ray film,the abdominal ultrasound can detect the characteristic features of NEC(pneumatosis intestinalis and pneumatosis portalis)in time,which has great value for early diagnosis.In addition,it is more suitable for continuous dynamic monitoring for the children with conservative medical treatment due to the noninvasive technique.