Mishal Shanover 1 year ago

Take a Close Look at the Bowel Wall!

This abdominal X ray of a neonate shows pneumatosis intestinalis- gas in the gut wall. This condition can occur in a few diseases, one of them being Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Necrotizing Enterocolitis is a severe inflammation of the gut of the preterm baby. Several risk factors have been postulated and passage of microbes through the immature mucosa into the gut and blood likely plays a role. As the bacteria proliferate and intestinal wall undergoes necrosis, not only does the bowel lumen distend, but the gas also forms within the layers of the intestinal wall. From the intestine, the gas may also travel into the portal vein and give gas shadows in the liver. (Image via: www.radiopaedia.org)