Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Comparison Between Full
Term and Pre-Term Neonates
RAVIT RUANGTRAKOOL,M.D.*, MONGKOL LAOHAPENSANG, M.D.*,
CHANA SATHORNKICH, M.D.*, POLPATT TALALAK, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University,
Bangkok I 0700, Thailand.
AbstractA retrospective study comparing 16 full-term and 18 pre-term neonates with NEC
operated on at Siriraj Hospital between 1987 and 1999 is presented. Major risk factors leading
to NEC in full-term neonates included sepsis, SGA, birth asphyxia, severe jaundice requiring
exchange transfusion and chorioamnionitis. Although full-term neonates developed NEC earlier
than pre-term neonates (8.56 days vs 12.78 days), the average ages of operation in both groups
were the same. There was no difference in CBC and bacteriological culture's results between
term and pre-term patients. The decision to conduct operative treatments for full-term neonates
with NEC was mostly based on only clinical signs of peritonitis (56.25%) before the pneumo
peritoneum developed (31.25% ). II eo-caecal region was the most common site of bowel necrosis
in both premature and full-term infants. Although term infants had a better 3-month survival
rate than pre-term neonates (75% and 61% respectively), both groups had the same surgical
complication rates.
Keywords : Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Neonate, Full-term Infant, Risk Factors, Pneumatosis
Intestinalis, Indications for Operation, Operative Complications, Survival Rate
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