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Surgical decision making in necrotizing enterocolitis and focal intestinal perforation: predictive value of radiologic findings.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Given the current controversy over the appropriate surgical management (peritoneal drainage versus exploratory laparotomy) of advanced necrotizing enterocolitis and focal intestinal perforation, the authors examined the predictive value of radiologic findings. METHODS: The medical records of 80 infants undergoing exploratory laparotomy for presumed advanced necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or focal intestinal perforation (FIP) were reviewed. Radiologic criteria were evaluated as predictors of NEC (pneumatosis intestinalis, portal venous gas) or perforation (free air, gasless abdomen). The standard epidemiologic measures were calculated for each criterion. RESULTS: For pneumatosis intestinalis, the sensitivity was 44% (n = 27) and specificity, 100% (n = 19). For portal venous gas, the sensitivity was 13% (n = 8) and specificity, 100% (n = 19). The sensitivity and specificity calculated for free air was 52% (n = 23) and 92% (n = 33), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity calculated for a gasless abdomen was 32% (n = 14) and 92% (n = 33), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: While demonstrating high specificity, the radiologic signs traditionally associated with NEC and FIP have unexpectedly low sensitivities. Although positive radiologic findings are of great predictive value, negative radiologic findings acquired while determining the need for and specific type of surgical intervention in suspected NEC or FIP must be interpreted with extreme caution.

Enterocolitis, Necrotizing↗

[Acute necrotizing enterocolitis in an adult--a clinical study].

The authors retrospectively reviewed 24 cases of necrotizing enterocolitis, in which the diagnosis was made or confirmed intraoperatively. This article points to the complex pathophysiology and preoperative diagnostic difficulties of necrotizing enterocolitis due to its clinical heterogeneity and lack of specificity of the laboratory findings. Given all these preoperative problems quite too often the best operatory moment is los and despite the somehow simple intraoperative diagnosis and the modern, well established surgical principles: resection of the necrotic segment with secondary reanastomosis (whenever possible), the post-therapeutic mortality rate remains disappointingly high (70.8%).

Abdominal Pain↗

[Necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn].

The data from the literature and the own observations on necrotizing enterocolitis of newborns as an independent entity are presented. Particular attention is drawn to the complications of necrotizing enterocolitis in the form of stenosis of the gut clinically manifested in the first months of life.

Autopsy↗

Surgical indications and strategies for necrotizing enterocolitis in low income countries.

In high income countries, mortality of neonates due to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is decreasing due to advances in early detection and sepsis management. Surgical strategies, by and large, are becoming less relevant as the sophistication of intensive care facilities increases in those countries. Management of septic neonates with NEC in low income countries, however, due to inherent resource constraints cannot achieve the same standards as those reported from high income countries. Surgeons therefore play an important role because they can offer different surgical strategies in line with the deficiency of their environment. Over a 4-year period, 172 neonates who had surgery for NEC in a single institution were prospectively followed up. Standard surgical practices of the high income countries were compared to those adopted by the authors. The end point was early mortality, taking into account the anatomical zones of the involved intestine. Survival was increased from 21% to 84% by early surgery and by extending the length of colon resected in cases of ileocolic NEC. In this approach, a short resuscitative period is followed by intestinal resection including most of the diseased colon as well as the perforated/dead bowel. A more modest improvement in survival was noted with a planned re-look laparotomy in neonates with generalized NEC.

Developing Countries↗

Necrotizing enterocolitis associated with clostridium perfringens type A in previously healthy north american adults.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enteritis associated with Clostridium perfringens type C ("pigbel") is a well-known syndrome in severely protein-deprived populations in the Pacific. It is exceedingly rare in the developed world. C perfringens type A is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis and, in a handful of infections, has been reported in association with a syndrome resembling necrotizing enteritis. STUDY DESIGN: This study includes a case series and literature review. Charts and autopsy reports from four patients with adult necrotizing enterocolitis (ANEC) were reviewed. C perfringens isolates were subtyped by mouse bioassay and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Fixed tissue specimens were tested with an anticlostridial antibody using an immunohistochemical assay. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2003, ANEC developed in four previously healthy men; three died. The small bowel was affected in three patients and the colon in two patients. Portal or mesenteric vein thrombosis occurred in three patients. C perfringens type A was isolated from three patients and immunohistochemical assay demonstrated clostridial antigens limited to affected areas of the intestine of all four. The nonculture positive patient had a strong epidemiologic link to one of the others, and a compatible clinical course. C perfringens of the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-defined molecular subtyped was isolated from stool samples of one patient, his wife, and food from a restaurant they patronized. CONCLUSIONS: ANEC associated with C perfringens type A infection occurred in four North American adults. Culture for C perfringens type A should be performed in cases of ANEC. Alternative tests such as immunohistochemical assay were diagnostically useful. Additional research might uncover virulence factors, host factors, and the burden of disease in the population.

Adult↗

Primary peritoneal drainage for increasing ventilatory requirements in critically ill neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Primary peritoneal drainage (PPD) is an established therapy for premature neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and free intraperitoneal air. This study seeks to evaluate the efficacy of PPD in ill premature neonates with severe abdominal distension and increasing ventilatory requirements without free intraperitoneal air. METHODS: Eleven neonates (gestational age, 27 +/- 0.59 weeks; age, 25 +/- 4.3 days; birth weight, 862 +/- 67 g) with NEC underwent bedside PPD under local anesthesia for rapid clinical deterioration characterized by severe abdominal distension and increasing ventilatory requirements. None showed radiographic evidence of free intraperitoneal air. Mean airway pressure (MAP) and oxygenation-index (OI) were analyzed 24 hours before, immediately before and 24 hours after surgery. The patients were followed up to discharge from hospital. Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. RESULTS: Mean airway pressure (MAP) showed a significant difference (P <.05) increasing from 7.1 +/- 0.75 cm H2O 24 hours before surgery to 11 +/- 1.3 cm H2O immediately before surgery and decreasing to 9.9 +/- 1.1 cm H2O 24 hours after drainage. Likewise, OI measured at the same time intervals showed significant differences (P <.05) deteriorating from 5 +/- 1.2 to 26 +/- 6.9 then improving to 13 +/- 3.5. A significant quadratic effect (P <.03) was evident for MAP and OI (ie, values significantly rose then fell). There were six 30-day survivors (55%), and 3 survived to discharge (27%). Of the long-term survivors, 2 required operative fistula closure, and 1 needed no further surgery. CONCLUSION: Bedside PPD for increasing ventilatory requirements and abdominal distension in critically ill neonates with nonperforated NEC is a simple technique that offers rapid stabilization, although ultimate mortality rate remains high.

Airway Resistance↗

Peritoneal drainage as primary management in necrotizing enterocolitis: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The use of peritoneal drainage (PD) in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is controversial. The authors began to perform it successfully in infants with pneumoperitoneum, and subsequently they extended its use to infants with peritonitis and advanced NEC before radiologic evidence of peritoneal free air. To analyze the efficacy of PD they began a prospective study. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 6 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Spain: neonates with pneumoperitoneum or peritonitis and advanced NEC were all included, whatever the birth weight and gestational age (GA). RESULTS: PD was performed in 47 infants, but 3 of them were excluded because pneumoperitoneum was caused by pathologies other than NEC. In a cohort of 44 infants, 86% improved after PD, and 64% survived after only PD. After PD, 54% of infants needed delayed surgery. Overall survival rate was 82%; 57% infants with birth weight under 1,000 g, and 95% in infants over 1,000 g at birth. The main cause of mortality was massive NEC in the tiniest babies. Only one infant had a short bowel syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: From the authors' point of view, PD is the first step in treating neonates with pneumoperitoneum or overwhelming NEC, regardless of birth weight and GA. Laparotomy, if it is necessary, always must be performed after clinical stability is achieved. Mortality rates remain higher in the tiniest babies because of massive NEC.

Birth Weight↗

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis following intrauterine transfusions: is there an association?

The case of a neonate with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) following intrauterine transfusions (IUTs) for Rhesus hemolytic disease (RHD) prompted us to undertake a retrospective study (1995-2002) to determine whether there is an association between IUT and NEC. Maternal and neonatal demographics, and details concerning IUT and definite (> or =Stage II) NEC, were collected. Chi2 tests of association were performed. In our population 281/38,200 (0.73%) pregnancies were complicated by RHD. Fetal anemia necessitated IUT in 25/281 pregnancies. Definite NEC occurred in 59/11,814 (very low birth weight=1874) neonatal admissions. Except for the index case, no other neonate developed NEC following IUT. No significant association was found between IUT and NEC.

Adult↗

Outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis associated with Enterobacter sakazakii in powdered milk formula.

We describe an outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) that occurred in the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital. A total of 12 neonates developed NEC in June-July 1998. For two of them, twin brothers, the NEC turned out to be fatal. Enterobacter sakazakii, a known contaminant of powdered milk formula, was isolated from a stomach aspirate, anal swab, and/or blood sample for 6 of the 12 neonates. A review of feeding procedures revealed that 10 of the 12 patients were fed orally with the same brand of powdered milk formula. E. sakazakii was isolated from the implicated prepared formula milk as well as from several unopened cans of a single batch. Molecular typing by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) confirmed, although partially, strain similarity between milk and patient isolates. No further cases of NEC were observed after the use of the contaminated milk formula was stopped. With this outbreak we show that intrinsic microbiological contamination of powdered milk formula can be a possible contributive factor in the development of NEC, a condition encountered almost exclusively in formula-fed premature infants. The use of sterilized liquid milk formula in neonatal care could prevent problems with intrinsic and extrinsic contamination of powdered milk formula.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Prolonging small feeding volumes early in life decreases the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 90% of infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) do so after being fed. Previous prospective studies have shown that infants given small enteral feedings for the first 7 to 10 days of feeding do not have an increased risk for NEC compared with those given no feedings. Although neonatologists now commonly increase feeding volumes, no study has compared the risk for NEC between infants fed these small volumes and those fed volumes that are increased slowly. The purpose of this study was to compare the risks and benefits of small and increasing feeding volume. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled trial, we randomly assigned 141 preterm infants in the newborn intensive care unit to be fed 10 days using 1 of 2 schedules. One group was fed 20 mL/kg/d for the first 10 study days (minimal). The other group (advancing) was fed 20 mL/kg/d on study day 1; feeding volume was increased by 20 mL/kg/d up to 140 mL/kg/d, which was maintained until study day 10. The main outcome measure was incidence of NEC; secondary outcomes were maturation of intestinal motor patterns, time to reach full enteral feedings, and incidence of late sepsis. RESULTS: The study was closed early because 7 infants who were assigned to advancing feeding volumes developed NEC, whereas only 1 infant fed minimal feeding volumes did, or 10% versus 1.4%. Although infants who were fed minimal volumes established full enteral feeding volumes later than infants who were fed advancing volumes, maturation of intestinal motor patterns and the incidence of late sepsis and feeding intolerance was similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Given that advancing feeding volumes increase the risk of NEC without providing benefits for motor function or feeding tolerance, neonatologists should consider using minimal feeding volumes until future trials assess the safety of advancing feeding volumes.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Necrotizing enterocolitis in infants: clinical outcome and influence on growth and neurodevelopment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal emergency in neonates. Whether NEC affects infants' growth and development is controversial. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics and outcome and to assess the effect of NEC on growth and neurodevelopment in infants. METHODS: A total of 80 neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January 1991 to April 2002 with definite, advanced NEC, including 48 with modified Bell's stage II and 32 with stage III. Sixty six of the patients were premature. Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants without NEC were used as matching controls for the 15 infants with VLBW. The growth and neurodevelopment of patients and controls were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II and compared at 6 and 18 months of corrected age. RESULTS: NEC developed an average of 27.7 days after feeding began. The most common initial signs were abdominal distension, decreased activity, hematochezia, and abdominal tenderness. Thirty four patients (43%) required surgical intervention. Three infants developed short bowel syndrome after surgical resection. The overall mortality was 24% (19/80) and was mostly associated with extensive bowel involvement and NEC-related sepsis or multiple organ failure. Of the surviving 61 infants, 12 (20%) developed intestinal strictures, 2 in the ileum, 6 in the colon, and 4 in both ileum and colon. Compared with controls, the VLBW infants with NEC were shorter and had delayed psychomotor development at 18 months of corrected age. Mental development, however, did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal stricture was the most common gastrointestinal complication in this series of infants with NEC. Besides the bowel sequelae, VLBW infants who survive NEC are at risk for impairment of growth and neurodevelopment.

Body Height↗

Entero-enteric fistula following mild necrotizing enterocolitis.

We report a 26-week gestational age newborn who developed an entero-enteric fistula associated with a small bowel stricture following a mild episode of necrotizing enterocolitis. The fistula led to a delay in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of the stricture, and should therefore be considered in the setting of partial or intermittent obstruction in the newborn who has had necrotizing enterocolitis.

Constriction, Pathologic↗

Association between packed red blood cell transfusion and clinical deterioration in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: No systematic review has evaluated the existing evidence regarding the association between packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion and clinical worsening of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonates. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to address this knowledge gap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed for studies on pRBC transfusion and NEC published before May 10, 2025. Relevant articles were selected through title, abstract, and full-text screening. English-language case-control studies or cohort studies, or randomized controlled trials involving newborns with NEC that compared pRBC transfusion with no transfusion and reported changes in NEC clinical status were included. Review articles, systematic reviews, case reports, editorials, animal studies, duplicate publications, and studies with incomplete data were excluded. RESULTS: Five studies involving 971 neonates with NEC were included. The pooled analysis demonstrated a potential association between pRBC transfusion and clinical deterioration of NEC in neonates (odds ratio: 6.05, 95% confidence interval: 3.02-12.14). CONCLUSIONS: pRBC transfusion was associated with an exacerbation of NEC in neonates. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small number of eligible studies included in this meta-analysis, and future large-scale, well-designed studies are needed to confirm the observed association.

Humans↗

[Small intestine ulcers 12 years after ileosigmoid anastomosis for neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis].

BACKGROUND: Ileal ulcers can be seen several years after surgery for neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. They may be due to chronic bacterial colonisation of the intestine. CASE REPORT: A 12 year-old boy admitted suffering from chronic severe anemia (hemoglobin 6.5 g/dl), hypochromic and microcytic. Digestive bleeding was negative and the patient was successfully given iron for 6 months. Anemia was found again several months after cessation of treatment. Rectosigmoidoscopy showed several ulcers with inflammatory mucosa, near anastomosis secondary to an extensive bowel resection due to necrotizing enterocolitis. Ulcers of the distal small bowel persisted despite mesalazine and iron therapy and required resection of the intestine on both sides of the anastomosis. A few months later, recurrence of both ulcers and anemia led to the search for bacterial overgrowth which was confirmed by breath hydrogen testing. The patient was then given metronidazole plus amoxicillin by alternate courses and is well one year later. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic bacterial colonization can be responsible for ileal ulcers several years after intestinal resection, requiring a prolonged controlled follow-up.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

[A protocol for prognostic evaluation of newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis].

A modified Vásquez-Estévez protocol for prognostic appraisal of newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis was retrospectively applied to 23 confirmed cases from year 1987 throughout 1989 in general metropolitan hospital at Santiago, Chile. Cases were classified as low (0-12 points) or high (13-30) risk according to its corresponding score. Case fatality rates ranged from 7.1% to 77.7% in low and high risk groups, respectively. Sensibility was 87.5%, specificity 86.6% and efficiency 86.6%. Instrument application was easy. It concluded that this is a valuable tool for the prognostic evaluation of necrotizing enterocolitis. A wider and deeper prospective application would allow to measure more exactly its usefulness in other settings.

Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous↗

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: a cause of gastric metaplasia in the mid-ileum.

Following neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis in a premature Aboriginal baby, a stricture developed in the distal small intestine. At laparotomy a 1.0 cm stricture was found in a 25 cm thick-walled, oedematous segment of the mid-ileum. Biopsy demonstrated antropyloric-type ectopic mucosa and, therefore, the oedematous segment was removed. The resected specimen contained several distinct areas of flat antropyloric gastric mucosa as well as ileal mucosa. Although no acid-producing cells could be demonstrated, mucosal ulceration was prominent in several areas. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated gastric pits. Immunoperoxidase technique for gastrin failed to demonstrate gastrin-containing cells. It is believed that this mucosa represents a metaplasia that has been induced in response to mucosal damage, which in turn was initiated by necrotizing enterocolitis. It is believed this would represent the first reported case.

Choristoma↗

Necrotizing enterocolitis in horses: a retrospective study.

The clinical and clinicopathologic characteristics of fatal necrotizing enterocolitis were examined in 16 horses (age 4 months to 12 years). At initial presentation, 8 of 16 horses were pyrexic (median temperature, 38.4 degrees C; range, 33.8 to 40.6 degrees C); all 16 were tachycardic (median heart rate, 93 bpm, range, 66 to 138 bpm); 13 of 16 were tachypneic (median heart rate, 36 bpm, range, 16 to 80 bpm), dehydrated, and had discolored mucous membranes. All horses that were pyrexic were also tachycardic and tachypneic. PCV was high (> 45%) in 14 horses. Six horses were leukopenic (< 5,000 cells/microL); 12 were neutropenic (< 2,300 cells/microL), and 14 had > 100 band neutrophils/microL. Twelve horses were acidemic (pH < 7.37; range, 6.88 to 7.33) and the venous bicarbonate concentration was low (< 23 mEq/L) in 14 horses. Median anion gap in 16 horses was 31.5 mEq/L (> 15 mEq/L in 15 horses). Eleven of 16 horses were hyponatremic (< 137 mEq/L), 1 horse was hypernatremic (> 143 mEq/L), 3 were hypokalemic (< 3.2 mEq/L), 6 were hyperkalemic (> 4.5 mEq/L), and 14 were hypochloremic (< 98 mEq/L). Serum creatinine concentrations were high (> 1.4 mg/dL) in 15 horses. Abdominal fluid was examined in 12 horses 4 had total protein concentrations > 2.5 g/dL and 6 had nucleated cell counts > 5,000/ microL and < 10,000/microL; none had > 10,000/microL. Eight of 12 samples revealed a nondegenerate neutrophilia (> 50%). Abdominal fluid collected from 4 horses immediately before death was normal in 2 horses and indicative of suppurative inflammation in 2. All 8 horses tested had low or nonexistent serum immunofluorescent antibody titers to Ehrlichia risticii. Four of 16 horses had Salmonella spp isolated from feces or tissues. All 16 horses either died (5 of 16; 31%) or were euthanized because of a grave prognosis. Median time to death was 45.5 hours (range, 7 to 113 hours) from the time of admission. Death was preceded by severe abdominal pain in 14 horses. Fatal necrotizing enterocolitis of horses is characterized by a brief course, profound dehydration, electrolyte derangements, acid-base abnormalities, and terminally, severe abdominal pain. Abdominal fluid analysis was frequently not indicative of the severity of disease.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗