Gastric distension in neonatal necrotising enterocolitis.

Nine cases of neonatal necrotising enterocolitis with a combination of gastric distension, paucity of bowel gas and bowel wall oedema are presented. It is postulated that the gastric distension may either be a result of a temporary obstruction at the pyloric canal from oedema or a direct effect of bacterial toxins on ischaemic gastric mucosa. Six (66%) of the 9 infants were term and it is suggested that any newborn infant presenting with isolated gastric distension with bloody stools should be treated as a case of necrotising enterocolitis.