Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: an update.
We reviewed 91 cases of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NNEC), which continues to be a devastating disease occurring in 2% to 4% of all newborn intensive care unit admissions. Onset now occurs in older infants (11.9 days). The morbidity is significant (22%), with strictures (8%) and recurrences (8%) the primary problems. Recurrences are more likely to require surgical intervention and result in a high mortality. Early diagnosis of necrotic bowel before perforation, peritoneal contamination, and sepsis is difficult and contributes to the still high, but improved, overall mortality of 36%.
D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies