Peritoneal drainage for necrotizing enterocolitis

This study evaluates the role of primary peritoneal drainage (PPD) in the management of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Of 169 patients with definite NEC, 92 (55%) underwent operation: primary laparotomy, 41 patients (45%); and PPD, 51 patients (55%). Seventeen (33%) of the PPD infants had subsequent laparotomy within seven days. Pneumoperitoneum was the indication for operation in 37% of the primary laparotomy and 67% of the PPD infants. Following PPD, 34 patients (67%) showed clinical improvement. Operative survivals were as follows: primary laparotomy, 83%; PPD, 53%. Infants who had PPD had a significantly lower mean birth weight, gestational age, preoperative pH and platelet count, and a significantly higher incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage and patent ductus arteriosus. For infants weighing less than 1,000 g at birth, the survival was similar following primary laparotomy (57%) and PPD (52%); this occurred in spite of the higher incidence of adverse risk factors in the PPD infants. For infants weighing greater than 1,000 g, the survival was 86% following primary laparotomy and 62% after PPD; in this group, all the early deaths following PPD occurred in critically ill infants who died within 48 hours of drainage. The late survival rates were as follows: primary laparotomy, 76%; PPD, 35%. More than half of the late deaths following PPD were not related to NEC, reflecting the difference between the two patient populations. Primary peritoneal drainage is a useful adjunct to resuscitation of the critically ill infant with complicated NEC, particularly prematures less than 1,000 g birth weight with intestinal perforation. Primary peritoneal drainage is not an alternative to laparotomy, which is recommended when an optimal clinical response has been achieved.