A new study from the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University has shed light on the potential of echocardiographic features as early predictors of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) severity in preterm infants. NEC, a severe gastrointestinal disorder, often occurs within the first weeks of life and poses significant risks to affected infants.
This retrospective study involved analyzing data from 141 preterm infants with gestational ages of less than 34 weeks, admitted to the hospital between October 1, 2022, and October 1, 2023. Researchers compared clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters between infants diagnosed with NEC and those without. They found significant differences within the first three days of life, indicating the potential for timely diagnosis and intervention.
The findings revealed disparities particularly concerning the maximum shunt velocity and differential pressure (P) on the pulmonary side of the arterial conduit, which were observed to be significantly lower in the NEC group. Conversely, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were higher among NEC patients, which may imply altered cardiac function accompanying intestinal distress.
Researchers categorized the NEC patients based on Bell’s staging criteria, with notable differences between the severity levels. The study’s analysis showed the necessity of antenatal glucocorticoid administration and umbilical vein cannulation, both found to be protective factors against the development of NEC.
Previous studies highlight the typical incidence of NEC ranges from 2% to 13% among preterm infants, carrying considerable mortality rates. Because early symptoms often mimic other conditions, diagnosing NEC before it progresses to serious intestinal injury is challenging. This highlights the importance of exploring innovative assessment methods.
The echocardiographic abnormalities identified within this study stress the importance of monitoring cardiac dynamics alongside other clinical assessments shortly after birth, as alterations may signal the onset of NEC, allowing for earlier intervention and treatment.
Despite the promising results, the study acknowledges limitations typical of retrospective analyses, including sample size and potential biases. Further prospective, multicenter studies are necessary to validate the effectiveness and clinical applications of these echocardiographic indicators.
Overall, this significant research contributes to the growing body of evidence on the relationship between cardiac function and gastrointestinal complications, emphasizing the need for advancements in early diagnostic techniques for high-risk preterm infants.