Outcomes and characteristics in term infants with necrotising enterocolitis and CHD

CHD is a significant risk factor for the development of necrotising enterocolitis. Existing literature does not differentiate between term and preterm populations. Long-term outcomes of these patients are not well understood. The aim was to investigate the baseline characteristics and outcomes of term normal birth weight infants with CHD who developed necrotising enterocolitis.

A retrospective review was performed of infants from a single tertiary centre with CHD who developed necrotising enterocolitis of Bell's Stage 1-3, over a ten-year period. Inclusion criteria was those born greater than 36 weeks' gestation and birth weight over 2500g. Exclusion criteria included congenital gastro-intestinal abnormalities. Sub-group analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test.

Twenty-five patients were identified, with a median gestational age of 38 weeks. Patients with univentricular physiology accounted for 32% (n = 8) and 52% of patients (n = 13) had a duct-dependent lesion. Atrioventricular septal defect was the most common cardiac diagnosis (n = 6, 24%). Patients with trisomy 21 accounted for 20% of cases. Mortality within 30 days of necrotising enterocolitis was 20%. Long-term mortality was 40%, which increased with increasing Bell's Stage. In total, 36% (n = 9) required surgical management of necrotising enterocolitis, the rate of which was significantly higher in trisomy 21 cases (p < 0.05).

Not previously described in term infants is the high rate of trisomy 21 and atrioventricular septal defect. This may reflect higher baseline incidence in our population. Infants with trisomy 21 were more likely to develop surgical necrotising enterocolitis. Mortality at long-term follow-up was high in patients with Bell's Stage 2-3.