Implementation of bowel ultrasound practice for the diagnosis and management of necrotising enterocolitis.

Creator(s)

Karen M. Alexander, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Sherwin S. Chan, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Erin K. Opfer, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Alain Cuna, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Jason D. Fraser, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Shazia Sharif
Minesh Khashu

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2021

Identifier

DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2019-318382

Abstract

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious inflammatory bowel disease of prematurity with potentially devastating complications and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among premature infants. In recent years, there has been accumulating data regarding benefits of using bowel ultrasound (BUS) in the diagnosis and management of NEC. Despite this, adoption of robust BUS programmes into clinical practice has been slow. As BUS is a relatively new technique, many barriers to implementation exist, namely lack of education and training for sonographers and radiologists, low case volume and unfamiliarity by clinicians regarding how to use the information provided. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a framework and a roadmap for units to implement BUS in day-to-day practice for NEC diagnosis and management.

Journal Title

Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition

Volume

106

Issue

1

First Page

96

Last Page

103

Keywords

gastroenterology; imaging; intensive care; multidisciplinary team-care; paediatric surgery

Recommended Citation

Alexander KM, Chan SS, Opfer E, et al. Implementation of bowel ultrasound practice for the diagnosis and management of necrotising enterocolitis. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2021;106(1):96-103. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2019-318382