Peritoneal drainage is associated with higher survival rates for necrotizing enterocolitis in premature, extremely...

To evaluate peritoneal drainage (PD) and laparotomy ± resection/ostomy (LAP) as initial approaches to the surgical management of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature, extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.

Kids' Inpatient Database (2003-2012) was searched for cases of NEC (International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] 777.5x) in premature (<37 weeks), extremely low birth weight (<1000 g) infants. Infants were admitted at <28 days of life. Propensity score (PS)-matched analyses were performed, using end points of hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost of hospitalization. Cases were matched 1:1 on 48 confounding variables (demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics and 39 comorbidities).

On PS-matched comparison, PD had higher survival versus LAP, P = 0.0009. LOS and cost were higher for PD versus LAP, P < 0.003. Survival rates did not differ between PD + LAP and PD-only treatments. LOS and cost were higher for PD + LAP versus PD-only, P < 0.02. PD + LAP infants had higher survival versus LAP, P = 0.0193. LOS and cost were higher for PD + LAP, P < 0.005.

A risk-adjusted PS-matched analysis of operative management in premature, ELBW infants with NEC found higher survival rates associated with PD placement versus LAP, whether PD was used as definitive treatment or with subsequent LAP even after controlling for potential contributors to selection bias (i.e., stability influencing management preference).