Table 1: Clinical findings of NEC (Modified Bell Classification).

(I) “Suspected” NEC:    (i) Temperature instability, apnoea, bradycardia, lethargy    (ii) Gastric retention, abdominal distention, emesis, blood in stool    (iii) Normal or intestinal dilation and mild ileus on abdominal radiograph   (II) “Definite” NEC:    (i) As above plus    (ii) Absent bowel sounds abdominal tenderness abdominal cellulitis or right lower quadrant mass    (iii) Radiological evidence of intestinal dilation, ileus, or pneumatosis intestinalis ascites   (III) “Advanced” NEC:    (i) As above plus    (ii) Hypotension, bradycardia, severe apnoea, respiratory and metabolic acidosis, coagulopathy, or neutropaenia     (iii) Signs of peritonitis, marked tenderness, and abdominal distention radiological evidence         of intestinal perforation (pneumoperitoneum)