How I Do It: Imaging Evaluation of Neonatal Bowel Obstructions

Neonatal bowel obstruction is one of the most common surgical emergencies in neonates in daily clinical practice. Because most causes of bowel obstruction in neonates are different from those in older children and adults, a clear understanding of the specific causes and how to properly evaluate them is important for optimal care. Imaging evaluation plays an essential role in initial workup, accurate diagnosis, and proper guidance of subsequent management in these patients. This up-to-date article provides radiologists with a practical imaging approach and techniques for evaluating neonatal bowel obstruction. The spectrum of underlying causes of neonatal upper and lower bowel obstruction is discussed using a pattern-based approach to analyze characteristic imaging findings. The preferred diagnostic imaging modalities and key imaging features to distinguish these causes of obstructions from other differential diagnoses are highlighted.