Table 2.
a Meta-analysis of abdominal ultrasound (US) features predictive of surgical NEC. b Meta-analysis of abdominal ultrasound (US) features predictive of surgical NEC or death.
| Studies | Infants (n) | Odds ratio (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absent bowel wall perfusion | 2 | 84 | 142.89 (15.65–1305.00) |
| Pneumoperitoneum | 2 | 138 | 43.42 (7.24–260.25) |
| Absent peristalsis | 2 | 293 | 18.56 (1.29–266.89) |
| Focal fluid collection | 4 | 203 | 15.46 (4.81–49.66) |
| Complex fluid collection | 4 | 203 | 12.36 (4.96–30.81) |
| Thickened bowel wall | 6 | 644 | 4.72 (1.17–19.06) |
| Thinned bowel wall | 5 | 460 | 4.26 (0.46–39.37) |
| Intramural gas | 7 | 671 | 3.29 (1.35–7.99) |
| Portal venous gas | 7 | 502 | 3.00 (1.15–7.80) |
| Increased bowel wall perfusion | 4 | 222 | 2.51 (0.18–35.55) |
| Bowel wall echogenicity | 1 | 83 | 2.36 (0.62–9.01) |
| Simple free fluid | 4 | 377 | 1.50 (0.36–6.30) |
| Dilated bowel | 1 | 84 | 0.66 (0.21–2.07) |
| Studies | Infants (n) | Odds ratio (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complex fluid collection | 4 | 180 | 15.96 (6.53–38.98) |
| Pneumoperitoneum | 7 | 586 | 11.00 (3.03–39.94) |
| Absent bowel wall perfusion | 3 | 120 | 6.99 (2.06–23.76) |
| Focal fluid collection | 5 | 336 | 6.72 (1.37–33.09) |
| Bowel wall echogenicity | 3 | 121 | 6.00 (1.74–20.63) |
| Absent peristalsis | 5 | 390 | 5.46 (1.60–18.69) |
| Thinned bowel wall | 5 | 266 | 4.08 (1.08–15.37) |
| Thickened bowel wall | 8 | 611 | 3.87 (2.61–5.75) |
| Dilated bowel | 3 | 305 | 3.81 (2.21–6.55) |
| Portal venous gas | 8 | 611 | 3.70 (1.62–8.46) |
| Increased bowel wall perfusion | 4 | 180 | 3.44 (0.58–20.19) |
| Simple free fluid | 8 | 611 | 2.75 (0.73–10.32) |
| Intramural gas | 8 | 611 | 2.35 (1.17–4.72) |
Odds ratio represents odds of surgical NEC (2a) or surgical NEC or death (2b) versus medical NEC if US feature is present. Ordered by odds ratios.