Necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates and infants: a retrospective study of 13 cases

Necrotizing enterocolitis has become a major concern to neonatologists and the paediatric surgeons, which has been estimated to occur in 1-2% of all admission to Newborn Intensive Care Units. Our retrospective study has been done on case of NEC during the period from April 1992 to April 1994 in Newborn Intensive Care Unit of King Khalid General Hospital, Hafr Al Batin, Saudi. Thirteen cases were treated initially nasogastric suction, intravenous fluids and parentral atibiotics, 4 cases cured completely and 3 cases died from septicaemia and DIC. The remaining 6 cases developed surgical complication, 4 cases were explored out of which 3 cases got cured and one died. In the last 2 cases, of < 1000 Gms. birth weight, precutaneous peritoneal drainage under local anaesthesia was done, one got cured without residual problems and the other died. Clinical examination, radiological and laboratory investigations were done in all cases, however 4 cases were diagnosed histopathologically