[Neonatal gastrointestinal emergencies]

Gastrointestinal emergencies in neonates often demand a quick and efficient diagnostic imaging. The procedures have to take the special diseases and conditions in these babies and preterm children into account.

This paper summarises the most common causes for gastrointestinal neonatal emergencies and discusses the indication and performance as well as the diagnostic value of the commonly used modalities, giving some suggestions for an efficient imaging algorithm. Most of the time conventional plain abdominal films and sonography can answer the clinically important questions, however, in certain conditions fluoroscopy with contrast administration (enema, etc.) is mandatory. Only rarely is CT, MRI or Angiography indicated.