Necrotizing Enterocolitis In Full-Term Infants (original) (raw)

Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Full-Term Infants: Case–Control Study and Review of the Literature

Journal of Perinatology, 2004

To examine the increasing number of full-term infants at our hospital exhibiting necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in order to characterize these cases and to discover common risk factors. METHODS: Medical charts were reviewed for all full-term infants (gestational age > 36 weeks) that were born in our institution during a 5-year period (from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2002) and that developed definite NEC. Data regarding the rate of Cesarean section (CS) in our institution over the study period and five years prior to the study was also recorded. RESULTS: During the 5 years of the study, 14 full-term infants were found to have NEC. The incidence of NEC in full-term infants increased from 0.16 to 0.71 per 1000 live births in the 5-year period. Mean birth weight was 2829 g. All the NEC infants except one were delivered by CS, and all of them were fed either with a mixture of breast milk and formula or entirely by formula. Seven of the infants (50%) had no major known risk factors predisposing them for NEC. Mean age of disease onset was very early (4.1 days) in most of the infants (12 infants), and the colon was the main NEC site. The short-term outcome was favorable in all but one case, which required explorative laparotomy for intestinal perforation. The number of infants born by CS has been steadily increasing, and was almost three times greater during the study period in comparison to the preceding years. CONCLUSIONS: The etiology of NEC in the full-term population seems to differ from the etiology for the preterm group in its intestinal location and in the timing of its onset. The increase in the rate of CS over the years might be related to the concurrent increase in NEC, and this relationship should be further investigated.

Epidemiology of necrotizing enterocolitis - Part I: Changing regional trends in extremely preterm infants over 14 years

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2005

Objectives: Advances in perinatal care include exogenous surfactant, unequivocal acceptance of antenatal steroids and in utero and ex utero transfers to tertiary centres. Increased survival of extremely premature infants may change the incidence and outcome of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Our aim was to examine the trends in the incidence of NEC, surgery and mortality in infants of 24-28 weeks gestation in a retrospective regional review of three epochs over a span of 14 years. Methods: Radiologically or surgically proven NEC cases were determined from the New South Wales Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Study database. Three epochs were examined. A total of 360 infants were admitted in 1986-87 (Epoch 1), 622 in 1992-93 (Epoch 2) and 673 in 1998-99 (Epoch 3). Results: There was an increase in neonatal intensive care unit admissions and a decrease in early and overall mortality of these very premature infants across the epochs. None of the early deaths was due to NEC. The incidence of NEC decreased in post day 5 survivors: 33 cases in Epoch 1 (12%), 60 cases in Epoch 2 (12%) and 34 cases in Epoch 3 (6%, P < 0.001). There was no change in surgical intervention (45%, 57% and 41%, respectively) or mortality due to NEC (37%, 27% and 32%). The reduced incidence of NEC was not singularly influenced by antenatal steroids, exogenous surfactant or outborn delivery. In a multivariate analysis, only later epoch of birth was independently associated with reduced NEC risk. Conclusions: With improved care and survival of extremely premature infants, the incidence of NEC has decreased, but it remains a disease of high mortality and morbidity.

Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors

Journal of Neonatal Surgery, 2020

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common surgical disease in premature neonates, however, it may occasionally occur in term neonates. The etiology of NEC in prematurity is multifactorial but is still not well understood in term neonates. In this study, the maternal and neonatal risk factors, along with underlying pathology that may precipitate NEC in term neonates are investigated. Methods: A retrospective study investigating the maternal and neonatal risk factors for NEC in term neonates (G.A ≥37 weeks) was performed over an 8-years period (January 2009 to March 2017). We used the second group of healthy term neonates over the same period as a control group. The data were collected from medical records. Term babies with the primary diagnosis of NEC were included in the review. Premature neonates (G.A <37 weeks) and NEC secondary to intestinal obstruction (e.g. Hirschsprung’s disease) were excluded from the study. Results: Of 194 babies with NEC, 14 were term neon...

Contributing Factors for Development of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Materia Socio Medica, 2016

Background: necrotizing enterocolitis is a serious condition that affects mostly preterm infants, with high mortality rate. Aim: to estimate the influence of potentially contributing factors of this multifactorial disease. Methods: the study group included 51 necrotizing enterocolitis infants who were less than 37 week gestation who were hospitalized in NICU during a five year period. The control group consisted of 71 patients with approximately the same gestational age and birth weight. Average gestational age in the study group was 30.2 weeks (SD 3.7), average birth weight 1502g (SD 781.5). Average postnatal age in the time of the presenting NEC was 18.2 days (SD 12.8). Results: Logistic regression estimates the influence of risk factors, which in our study related to the treatment of preterm infants on the likelihood of NEC development. Our regression model consisted of seven independent variables (nosocomial infections, mechanical ventilation, nasal continuous positive pressure, morphine, inotropes, blood transfusions, and H2 blockers), which were shown to have a statistically significant impact, X2 (7, n=1222) = 49.522, p<0.0001; two independent variables (nosocomial infection and H2 blockers use) were statistically significant. Preterm infants with nosocomial infection had a three times greater chance of developing NEC, and infants who received H2 blockers had a 1.5 higher risk. Conclusions: Underlying pathology of very low birth weight infants and their treatment in NICU contribute to NEC development. Identifying risk factors can be crucial for the early diagnosis and outcome of disease. Awareness of risk factors should influence changes in practice to reduce the risk of NEC.

Developing necrotizing enterocolitis: retrospective analysis of 1428 preterm infants at a level-III neonatal intensive care unit over a four years period

Archivos Argentinos de Pediatria

Aim. To investigate NEC frequency in premature infants and assess risk factors associated with disease-onset and progression to intestinal perforation. Methods. Retrospective cohort in preterm neonates hospitalized between 2015 and 2018. Perinatal characteristics, clinical features, nutritional data and laboratory outcome were analyzed using SPSS-23 statistical package. Logistic regression was performed to analyze associated risk factors. Results. In 1428 neonates, the rate of developing NEC was 18.28 %. Conception with assisted reproductive technology, cesearean section and postnatal-steroids were associated with NEC (

Necrotizing enterocolitis in full term neonates: is there always an underlying cause?

Journal of neonatal surgery

To review our experience with full-term neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and to compare its characteristics to those published in the literature. Retrospective review of all neonates born after 35 weeks of gestation managed in Reunion Island for NEC from 2000 to 2012. Among the 217 diagnosed NEC, 27 patients (12.4%) were full term neonates, who were born at a mean gestational age of 36.8 ±1.7 weeks. The mean onset of the disease was 12.1±11.2 days after birth. Twenty patients had underlying causes (15 organic pathologies of the child, 3 isolated maternal disease, and 2 infections); 7 had idiopathic NEC. Surgery was required in 12 patients (37.5%) at 23.2±20 days after birth. NEC affected most of the time the colon (n=6) and the rectum (n=3). Overall survival rate was 88.8% (24/27). Two patients required partial non-enteral nutrition for1.3 and 2.1 years. NEC in full term neonates is a rare pathology. The onset of the disease in our experience was slightly later than des...

Frequency and Outcome of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Neonates

Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the commonest gastrointestinal emergency in neonates. It is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Present study was conducted to determine the frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates along with their outcome during stay in hospital. This was descriptive case series carried out in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Paediatrics department, POF Hospital Wah Cantt from August 2010 to February 2011. All the preterm neonates admitted in NICU POF Hospital were included in the study. Patients were clerked on a pre-designed pro forma. A total of 196 neonates were enrolled and 28 (14%) were diagnosed with NEC. Outcome analysis of these 28 patients with NEC revealed that 16 patients (57.14%) were discharged while 11 (39.28%) expired and one (3.5%) was referred. There is a high incidence in preterm-low birth weight babies presenting in our set-up, with high mortality rates.