Table 1 Modified Bell’s staging criteria for NEC
From: Stem cell therapy as a promising strategy in necrotizing enterocolitis
Stage | Systemic signs | Intestinal signs |
|---|---|---|
I (Suspected) | Temperature instability, apnea, bradycardia | Elevated pregavage residuals, mild abdominal distention, occult blood in stool |
II (Definite) | Same as I, plus mild metabolic acidosis, mild thrombocytopenia | Same as above, plus absent bowel sounds, definite abdominal tenderness, abdominal cellulitis, right lower quadrant mass |
III (Advanced) | Same as I, plus hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory acidosis, metabolic acidosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, neutropenia | Same as above, plus signs of generalized peritonitis, marked tenderness, and distention of abdomen |