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Updated: May 13, 2026
06:51
Microfluidic Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Incorporating Human Neonatal Intestinal Enteroids and a Dysbiotic Microbiome
Published on: July 28, 2023
Mortality and intestinal failure in surgical necrotizing enterocolitis
John Kelleher1, Himel Mallick, Thomas D Soltau
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249-7335, USA. jkelleher@peds.uab.edu
Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|March 14, 2013
Summary
Primary peritoneal drainage and laparotomy show similar outcomes for surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) regarding mortality or intestinal failure. However, peritoneal drainage alone may reduce intestinal failure in surviving infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal surgery
- Pediatric surgery
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a critical gastrointestinal emergency in neonates.
- Surgical intervention is often required for NEC, with primary peritoneal drainage and laparotomy being common initial approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of primary peritoneal drainage versus primary laparotomy as initial surgical interventions for NEC.
- To assess the impact on mortality and intestinal failure rates in infants with surgical NEC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study involving 240 infants diagnosed with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Analysis of outcomes including mortality before discharge and survival with intestinal failure.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was found in the composite outcome of mortality or intestinal failure between primary peritoneal drainage and primary laparotomy.
- Infants surviving with peritoneal drainage followed by salvage or secondary laparotomy had higher rates of intestinal failure compared to those treated with peritoneal drainage alone (12-14% vs. 1%).
Conclusions:
- Primary peritoneal drainage and primary laparotomy are comparable initial surgical strategies for necrotizing enterocolitis concerning mortality and intestinal failure.
- Peritoneal drainage as a sole initial intervention may be associated with a lower incidence of intestinal failure in surviving infants.
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