This site is targeted at medical and radiology professionals, contains user contributed content, and material that may be confusing to a lay audience. Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use.

Necrotising enterocolitis staging

Dr Frank Gaillard et al.

Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) can be staged into three groups, helping to guide appropriate treatment. In general stage I and II are managed medically, whereas stage III is managed surgically.

stage I
- clinical signs
  - lethargy, temperature instability, apnoea, bradycardia
  - emesis, abdominal distension, haematochezia
- radiographic findings
  - intenstinal dilation
- treatment
  - oral feeding cessation
  - parenteral nutrition
  - NGT suction
  - antibiotics
stage II
- IIa : mildly ill
- IIb : moderately ill
- clinical signs
  - as in stage I
  - metabolic acidosis, thrombocytopaenia
  - abdominal tenderness, absent bowel signs
- radiographic findings
  - intenstinal dilation
  - portal venous gas
  - pneumatosis intestinalis
- treatment
  - as in stage I
  - correction of metabolic acidosis
stage IIIa : shock
- clinical signs
  - as in stage II
  - respiratory or circulatory arrest
- radiographic findings
  - as in stage II
  - ascites