OBJECTIVE:

To assess whether intestinal loop dilatation by prenatal ultrasound is a prognostic factor of neonatal morbidity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Retrospective analytical cross-sectional study that included cases during the period 2013 to 2015. Variables of intestinal loop dilation and type of abdominal wall closure were analyzed as prognostic variables of neonatal morbidity. For the analysis, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test and odds ratio were used. The value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:

The total population was 20 neonates. The group with dilatation> 18mm presented complications in 60% of the cases, and the group with dilatation ≤ 18mm only 13%; It was determined that intestinal loop dilatation> 18mm is a predictor of neonatal complications with 85% sensitivity, 58.3% specificity and an OR of 8.4 (95%CI: 1-67.8). Neonates in whom primary closure of the abdominal wall was performed had shorter time of oral initiation and fewer days of parenteral nutrition when compared with the group in which Silo was placed, with a value of p = 0.009 and p = 0.041 respectively. While the hospital stay was similar in both groups (p = 0.069).

CONCLUSION:

Bowel dilation is a prognostic factor in the prediction of neonatal complications, but not a factor that can predict days of in-hospital stay, time of oral initiation or days of parenteral nutrition in the neonate.