What to do with an obstructed newborn

Bowel obstruction is the most common abdominal emergency in newborns. Managing bowel obstruction is a challenge for both clinicians and radiologists. The clinical presentation is nonspecific, and both the diagnosis and subsequent management are based on imaging studies. The traditional approach to studying obstructed newborns consists of plain-film abdominal X-rays and contrast-based studies of the gastrointestinal tract. Ultrasonography has proven useful in bowel obstruction, thus avoiding the use of ionizing radiation in certain cases, so diagnostic strategies should include it as a first-line technique. Using an appropriate combination of these techniques, it is possible to reach an accurate diagnosis quickly, orienting treatment and decreasing complications.