Sonographic depiction of intestinal wall defects in infants and young children with intestinal perforation

There is a paucity of information in the literature regarding preoperative sonography recognition of a defect in the intestinal wall due to perforation in neonates, infants, and young children.

To illustrate a group of neonates, infants, and young children, with a variety of causes of intestinal perforation, in whom the defect in the intestinal wall was correctly recognized preoperatively on sonography. Our aim is to increase the awareness of this imaging finding in this age group.

Retrospective analysis of clinical, imaging, surgical, and histologic findings in seven young children with intestinal perforation in whom the defect in the intestinal wall was recognized preoperatively on sonography and confirmed at surgery and histology.

The seven patients included five males and two females. Six were premature (22-28 weeks) and one was full term (38 weeks). All seven presented with clinical findings of an acute intestinal episode between 1 day and 15 months of age. Abdominal radiographs showed a distended abdomen with a relative paucity of bowel gas in four, and in the other three, there were multiple loops of dilated gas-filled intestine. Pneumoperitoneum was present in two. Sonography confirmed the presence of a large amount of echogenic ascites in all seven. The intestinal wall appeared variably thickened or thinned, with increased echogenicity in all. The defect of the intestinal wall, due to perforation, was located on sonography in all seven and showed communication between the intestinal intraluminal fluid content and the echogenic ascites in all seven. Tiny echogenic bubbles of gas were noted passing from the intraluminal space into the peritoneal cavity in two. Pneumoperitoneum was also noted on sonography in four. At surgery, the defect in the intestinal wall was located in the small intestine in four and in the large intestine in three.

This study illustrates seven young children in whom an intestinal defect, due to perforation, was correctly recognized on sonography preoperatively. Sonography proved more useful than the abdominal radiographs in documenting the presence of perforation. Pediatric radiologists should make the effort to search throughout the entire abdomen and pelvis for the presence of an intestinal wall defect due to perforation on sonography in neonates, infants, and young children with an acute abdominal episode, especially in the absence of pneumoperitoneum on plain radiographs and sonography. Its recognition preoperatively will facilitate a rapid diagnosis and will direct appropriate management.