Feasibility and acceptability of a diagnostic randomized clinical trial of bowel ultrasound in infants with suspected necrotizing enterocolitis.
Eur J Pediatr
; 181(8): 3211-3215, 2022 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2003719
ABSTRACT
We conducted a pilot diagnostic randomized clinical trial (RCT) to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of adding bowel ultrasound (BUS) to the diagnostic evaluation for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Infants ≤ 32 weeks' gestational age with NEC concern were randomized to undergo abdominal X-ray (AXR) or AXR + BUS. The primary outcome was study feasibility. Secondary outcomes included rates of NEC diagnosis and duration of treatment with bowel rest and antibiotics. A total of 56 infants were enrolled; 16 developed NEC concern and were randomized. Rates of recruitment (56/82 = 68%), retention (16/16 = 100%), and protocol compliance (126/127 = 99%) met pre-specified thresholds for feasibility. No significant differences in rates of NEC diagnosis were found between the two groups. Durations of bowel rest and antibiotic treatment were also similar. Conclusion:
Our study supports the feasibility of conducting a definitive diagnostic RCT to establish safety and efficacy of BUS for NEC. Clinical trial registration The study was registered at https//clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03963011). What is Known ⢠Bowel ultrasound (BUS) is increasingly being utilized as an adjunct to abdominal radiographs in evaluating for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). ⢠The impact of BUS on patient outcomes is unknown. What is New ⢠A diagnostic randomized controlled trial study design to determine safety and effectiveness of adding BUS to NEC evaluation is feasible and acceptable.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
/
Infant, Newborn, Diseases
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
/
Infant
/
Infant, Newborn
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Pediatr
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00431-022-04526-4
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