Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Jacob Olson, MD, Gail Besner, MD, John HT Waldhausen, MD, David M. Powell, MD, Ronald B Hirschl, MD

Introduction

necrotizing enterocolitis
Descriptive text is not available for this image

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common newborn surgical emergency and the leading surgical cause of death in the neonatal intensive care unit. Since NEC is typically a disease of premature infants, as neonatal therapies evolve pediatric surgeons are asked to assess and treat increasing numbers of these patients. Non-operative management is the initial approach with surgical intervention reserved for the treatment of the complications of the disease. A universal optimal surgical strategy for NEC remains elusive despite decades of experience with this disorder.

Opportunities exist in improving our prevention and treatment of NEC as well as elucidating its complex pathophysiology [1].

see also Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation and Necrotizing Enterocolitis Exploration

Content in this topic is referenced in SCORE Necrotizing Enterocolitis overview

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.

Last updated: January 22, 2021