NEONATAL NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS - THE RELATION OF AGE AT THE TIME OF ONSET TO PROGNOSIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 123  (5) , 387-390
Abstract
The predisposing factors, age at the time of onset and prognosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis in 62 patients treated in a neonatal intensive care unit during a 5 yr period (1974-1978) were evaluated. Because of a peak frequency during the 1st wk of life, the cases were divided into those of early-onset illness (appearing within the 1st wk of life) and those of late-onset illness (appearing after this wk). The main differences between the 2 groups were in the age at the time of the 1st enteric feeding (1.6 .+-. 0.9 d [day] vs. 4.0 .+-. 2.4 d [mean .+-. SD]; P < 0.001) and the interval between this feeding and the onset of symptoms (3.0 .+-. 1.5 d vs. 10.6 .+-. 6.0 d; P < 0.001). The early-onset illness was more severe, more often necessitating surgical intervention and carrying a higher mortality, than the late-onset illness. There are apparently 2 forms of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, differing in time of appearance after birth as well as in severity and prognosis.