RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How to use abdominal X-rays in preterm infants suspected of developing necrotising enterocolitis
JF Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition
JO Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 50
OP 57
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2018-315252
VO 105
IS 1
A1 Soni, Roopali
A1 Katana, Anastasia
A1 Curry, Joe I
A1 Humphries, Paul D
A1 Huertas-Ceballos, Angela
YR 2020
UL http://ep.bmj.com/content/105/1/50.abstract
AB Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm babies is a serious gastrointestinal emergency with potentially devastating consequences. Prompt and accurate diagnosis continues to be a challenge for health professionals. Early identification of clinical warning signs is extremely important, but the diagnosis relies heavily on the interpretation of abdominal radiographs. Postgraduate training of paediatricians and neonatologists in neonatal abdominal radiography is scarce, and there is variability of radiological input to neonatal services. Lack of a standardised approach and descriptive terminology for interpretation may result in inadequate communication between clinical and surgical teams, inaccurate diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and unnecessary cessation of feeds and transfers to surgical units. This paper offers a guide designed for the doctor who on a busy night shift needs to interpret an abdominal radiograph and decide on a differential diagnosis of NEC in a preterm baby. It helps to provide structure and standardisation to interpretation of radiological signs using a comprehensive but simple method to support the clinical diagnosis. Our aim is to enhance the correct diagnosis of NEC.