2026 Volume 42 Issue 1 Pages 53-60
Background: Imaging modalities involving radiation exposure, such as plain abdominal X-ray and contrast studies, remain the standard approach for diagnosis of neonatal gastrointestinal disorders. In contrast, gastrointestinal ultrasonography in neonates has yet to become widely adopted.
Rationale: Because neonates have small body sizes and minimal adipose tissue, the distance between the body surface and the gastrointestinal tract is short. This allows for detailed visualization of the bowel with excellent spatial resolution using high-frequency ultrasound probes. Numerous studies have reported the usefulness of gastrointestinal ultrasound in diagnosis of neonatal gastrointestinal diseases, including its value in assessing intestinal blood flow using Doppler techniques.
Challenges: Doppler evaluation in neonates often poses difficulties: it is challenging to suppress body movement and crying, breath-holding cannot be performed, and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) frequently causes artifacts that interfere with accurate assessment.
Objective: In this context, we aim to investigate the utility and limitations of Doppler blood-flow assessment in neonatal gastrointestinal ultrasonography.
