[Digestive stenosis after neonatal enterocolitis]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Neonatal Medicine

Context:

• Neonatal necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal emergency in newborns.
• Intestinal strictures are a significant long-term complication of NEC, occurring in an estimated 20-30% of cases.

Purpose:

• To present nineteen clinical cases of intestinal stricture following NEC.
• To review current literature on the pathogenesis and management of NEC-induced intestinal strictures.
• To discuss optimal surgical timing and techniques based on clinical presentation and disease progression.

Summary:

• The development of intestinal strictures after NEC is influenced by the depth and extent of necrosis, inflammation, and superinfection.
• Histological findings in these strictures are variable, and some cases show spontaneous regression.
• The optimal timing for surgical intervention and the choice of surgical techniques remain critical considerations.

Impact:

• Provides insights into the variable timeline and contributing factors for stricture formation post-NEC.
• Highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in managing NEC-related intestinal strictures.
• Aids clinicians in decision-making regarding surgical management of this serious neonatal condition.