Disappearance of bowel gas in newborn infants on mechanical ventilation.
Loss of bowel gas was observed in 18 out of 49 neonates on mechanical ventilation (37%). Its occurrence was correlated to the outcome and to the use of sedative or neuromuscular paralysing drugs. None of the babies had gastrointestinal disorders requiring surgical intervention. A gasless abdomen was found in 6 our of 26 surviving neonates (23%) and in 12 out of 23 neonates (52%) not surviving the respiratory illness. Absence of intestinal gas in unsedated or unparalysed babies (23%) as well as in Alodan treated babies (19%) was found with nearly equal frequency whereas its occurrence after neuromuscular paralysation with Alloferin was significantly higher (91%). Disappearance of intestinal gas pattern despite, normal gastrointestinal patency, occurring in mechanically ventilated neonates severely affected by respiratory distress of varying origin of after neuromuscular drug paralysation should be recognized.
D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*
D005740:Gases; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents