Necrotizing enterocolitis in the full term newborn

ABSTRACT

In a two-year period, 12 cases of full term neonates that developed necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC] were diagnosed. The history was positive for enteral feeding in nine of the twelve patients. An underlying risk factor was determined in all cases with hypoxic ischemia and respiratory distress being the most common. Postoperative NEC was found in two of the patients. All cases were diagnosed by radiological exploration and laboratory investigations with delay in the diagnosis in the postoperative group only. In those, tumor necrosis factor [TNF] seemed to be an early reliable indicator of the occurrence of the disease in front of misleading clinical and laboratory evidences. Nine of the patients required surgical interference with six survivors. Out of the three patients that were not operated upon, two expired from severe sepsis