Table 4.

Distribution of Intestinal Signs by Bell Staging [% of cases]

Nurse-Sensitive Assessments (with definition)	All NEC patients (n=117)	Stage I (n=37)	Stage II (n=28)	Stage IIIA (n=15)	Stage IIIB (n=37)
Increased pregavage residuals Increase in prefeeding gastric residuals from baseline	72.4%	78.4%	81.5%	93.3%	51.4%
Abdominal distention Increase in abdominal girth measured as part of the abdominal exam	82.1%	81.1%	78.6%	100%	78.4%
Emesis Nurse assessment and documentation of emesis	38.5%	32.4%	42.9%	46.7%	37.8%
Guaiac-positive stool Presence of fecal occult blood, as measured via Guaiac test	34.5%	29.7%	63%	26.7%	21.6%
Frank blood from rectum Nurse assessment and documentation of frank blood from rectum	14.7%	10.8%	40.7%	0	5.4%
Absent bowel sounds Nurse assessment and documentation of absent bowel sounds	23.9%	13.5%	21.4%	40%	29.7%
Abdominal tenderness Nurse assessment and documentation of abdominal tenderness	10.3%	0	3.6%	33.3%	16.2%
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) mass Nurse assessment and documentation of abdominal mass, specifically in the right lower quadrant	0.9%	2.7%	0	0	0