Paracentesis and lavage for diagnosis of intestinal gangrene in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

A study to evaluate peritoneal fluid as an index of intestinal gangrene in infants with necrotizing entercolitis (NEC) was begun in 1974. Twenty samples of peritoneal fluid were obtained by paracentesis or lavage from 15 infants with nonperforated NEC. A brown color in the peritoneal fluid was noted in all 8 patients found to have intestinal gangrene at subsequent operation. Gram stain showed bacteria in 6 of these 8 patients and bacterial cultures were confimatory in all but one. In 12 samples of peritoneal fluid in patients without intestinal gangrene, the fluid was straw-colored or pink and Gram stain showed no bacteria. The decision to operate on an infant with intestinal gangrene and impending perforation may be aided by analysis of the peritoneal fluid.