Premature newborn with a rising lactate level

AXR and US of spontaneous intestinal perforation with dirty ascites
AXR AP (above left) shows a nasogastric tube projecting over the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. There is a collection of air in the mid-abdomen that does not appear to conform to being within bowel. There is no portal venous gas or pneumatosis intestinalis. Transverse US of the abdomen (above right) shows echogenic ascites in the abdomen surrounding the loops of bowel. AXR left lateral decubitus (below) shows a large amount of air between the abdominal wall and the liver. Subsequent placement of a surgical drain returned stool.

The diagnosis was spontaneous intestinal perforation resulting in pneumoperitoneum and complicated ascites.