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Published on: July 28, 2023
Necrotizing enterocolitis: Current concepts in practice
Alysia Agnoni1, Christine Lazaros Amendola
1Alysia Agnoni practices in the neonatal intensive care unit at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa., and has worked in pediatric general and trauma surgery. Christine Lazaros Amendola is an assistant clinical professor and clinical education coordinator in the PA program at Pace University in New York City and Westchester, N.Y. She also practices emergency medicine at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Insights
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious infant condition, remains a significant threat despite decades of research. New studies offer hope for reducing NEC incidence and improving outcomes for vulnerable preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a critical gastrointestinal emergency predominantly affecting preterm infants.
- It remains a leading cause of mortality and long-term morbidity in this vulnerable population.
- Despite extensive research, the precise etiology of NEC is not fully understood, hindering effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.
- To identify existing gaps in knowledge regarding NEC pathology and risk factors.
- To highlight emerging research avenues that may reduce NEC incidence in the future.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on NEC presentation, treatment, and pathology.
- Analysis of current gaps in understanding NEC pathogenesis.
- Identification and summary of novel research directions for NEC prevention.
Main Results:
- NEC continues to present a significant challenge in neonatal care, with high rates of morbidity and mortality.
- Current understanding of NEC's underlying causes is incomplete, limiting preventative measures.
- Emerging research shows promise for future strategies to decrease NEC occurrence.
Conclusions:
- Effective identification and prevention of NEC are crucial in neonatal intensive care.
- Further research into NEC pathology is essential to develop targeted interventions.
- New scientific advancements may offer hope for reducing the burden of NEC on preterm infants.
Abstract:
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in preterm infants and continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of NEC as well as mortality from the disease has persisted at unacceptably high levels for decades as current understanding of the cause remains incomplete. Identifying infants at risk and preventing NEC are mainstays of care. This article briefly examines disease presentation and treatment, identifies gaps in current understanding of disease pathology, and highlights new research that may lead to a decrease in the incidence of NEC in the future.
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