Necrotising enterocolitis: a 15-year experience

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical features, laboratory examinations, abdominal x-rays, evolution, treatment and survival rate of neonates with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). The clinical histories of 157 neonates who developed NEC over a period of 15 years were reviewed. The biochemical parameters, clinical signs, examinations, treatment and survival rates were evaluated. The incidence was 1.8/1000 living neonates, 85.4% (n = 134) were premature. The average onset of NEC occurred at 12.1 days in preterms and 4.4 days in fullterms. The most frequent clinical signs were: abdominal distension 94.3%, pathological gastric residue 77.7%, blood in the stools 36.9%. In 63% abdominal x-rays revealed an asymmetrical swelling of intestinal loops, in 45.9% pneumatosis and in 14.6% puemoperitoneum. Treatment was medical in 62.4%, surgical in 37.6%. The survival rate was 60.5%. We conclude that NEC affects predominantly preterms, typically occurring by the end of the second week of life, possibly due to a bacterial infection.