Technique for continuous sampling of peritoneal fluid for prediction of intestinal gangrene.

The challenge presented to the surgeon by infants with NEC is to time an operation to coincide with the finite interval between infarction of gut and perforation. This study describes a new technique for continuous monitoring of peritoneal fluid in a rabbit model of intestinal ischemia to aid in predicting this interval. Color change to brown appears to be a reliable indicator of infarction. A sudden dramatic rise in the WBC of this fluid may also be an easily obtained, useful parameter. Further clinical studies of this method seem warranted to help improve the still dismal outcome of this disease.