Surgical treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious problem in nurseries for premature infants and neonatal intensive care units, with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. During the 5-year period 1973-77, 86 infants with NEC were treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; 43 of them underwent surgery and 43 were treated medically. The surgical candidates were more seriously ill, and their survival rate was 42% compared with 63% for those treated conventionally. Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical treatment of NEC may decrease or even prevent the severity of life-threatening complications.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications