Doppler ultrasound assessment of the splanchnic circulation in preterms with neonatal sepsis at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of Doppler ultrasonography in the assessment of splanchnic circulation's hemodynamic changes in septic preterms at risk of necrotizing enterocolitis. METHODS: A total of 51 septic preterms were divided into two groups: 25 preterms with clinical signs of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and 26 preterms with no clinical signs of NEC. Both groups were assessed with Doppler ultrasonography of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries, and each septic preterm's peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistivity index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) was calculated and recorded. RESULTS: These included a statistically significant lower PSV (p: 0.001) and a lower EDV (p: 0.001) in the superior mesenteric artery in the septic group with clinical signs of NEC in comparison with the septic group with no clinical signs of NEC. A statistically significant (p < 0.001) higher PSV celiac (CA)/PSV superior mesenteric (SMA) ratio was found for the group of septic preterms with clinical signs of NEC when compared to the other group. CONCLUSION: The study results showed that Doppler ultrasonography of the splanchnic circulation can be a tool for the early identification of NEC cases among septic preterms.