Necrotizing enterocolitis, surgical experience

ABSTRACT

Between January 1988 and December 1994,29 cases of necrotizing enterocolitis [NEC] required surgical management. There were 15 males and 14 females. The gestational age range was 24-38, average 32.7 weeks and body weight range was 565-4500 grams, average 1,680 grams. Necrotizing enterocolitis developed within two weeks of age in 55% of the cases, between two and four weeks in 34% and beyond four weeks in four cases [14%]. Pneumoperitoneum was the commonest indication for surgery [55%] of cases, followed by failure of response to medical treatment. The commonest surgical procedure was resection of the gangrenous bowel with creation of an enterostomy for the segmental disease in 15 cases [50%] and resection with primary anastomosis in six cases [20%]. Four cases [14%] had NEC totalis for which drainage alone was done, and two cases had external drainage alone. Survival rate was 72%