Diagnosing Intestinal Perforation: A New Approach

ABSTRACT

Spontaneous intestinal perforation has been shown to be a significant morbidity in the extremely low birthweight neonate. Occult spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP), without pneumoperitoneum on abdominal radiograph, typically occurs in neonates > 2 weeks of age and is usually diagnosed by visualization of particulate matter seen on an abdominal ultrasound. We present a case of a 25-week growth-restricted neonate at 12 days of life who was diagnosed with occult SIP by a novel mechanism.

KEYWORDS

Bowel perforation - transillumination - pneumoperitoneum - neonate

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