Disappearance of bowel gas in newborn infants on mechanical ventilation

Abstract

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 out 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 or after neuromuscular drug paralysation should be recognized.