RESUMO
The pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC] starts by food stasis in the gut followed by release of toxins from the food materials causing injury to the intestinal mucosa with subsequent translocation of these toxins to the blood circulations. This will lead to paralytic ileus causing more food stasis with more release of toxins, more ileus and so on. Therefore, breaking of this vicious circle by stimulating delivery of intestinal contents may stop the progress of the procedure. The aim of this work is to assess the effect of glycerin suppositories on recovery from early NEC. The babies that developed early NEC were divided into two groups. Group [A] involves 98 babies received glycerin suppositories twice daily added to the conservative medical treatment which is advised by paediatricians. The second group [B] involves 82 babies didn't receive glycerin suppositories. The study was done from August 2004 to May 2009. The babies who recovered from the NEC, those who underwent laparotomy and those who died were recorded. In group [A], 68 patients [69.4%] started to pass stool within 48 hours and recovered from NEC. The remaining 30 patients proceeded to a more advanced stages and 6 of them died without evidence of surgical indication to interference, 10 babies recovered later on and 14 underwent laparotomy where 5 of them died. In group [B], 34 patients [41.5%] passed stool within 48 hours. The remaining 48 patients proceeded to different degrees of NEC where 10 of them died without surgical interference, 24 developed intestinal perforations and laparotomy was done to them where 10 of them died postoperatively and the remaining 14 recovered from NEC. Use of glycerin suppositories in early NEC significantly increases the recovery from early NEC and so, significantly decreases the morbidity and mortality from NEC