Management and outcome of necrotizing enterocolitis

A survey of all cases of NEC in the State of Georgia during 1977 and 1978 identified 148 infants with NEC. Fifty-two of these infants were treated surgically, and the survival rate was 48 percent (26/54). The survival rate of medically treated patients was 68 percent (64/94) p less than 0.02. Survival was inversely associated with birthweight, although the survival rate following surgery was similar regardless of size. Age of presentation did not influence frequency of surgery or survival, but if perforation at surgery was present in smaller infants (less than or equal to 1500 g) the survival was less than if operation occurred prior to perforation (78% vs. 39%) p less than 0.05. The type of surgical procedure required also was associated with survival. The survival rate was greatest (90%) if only large bowel was removed and least (27%) if small bowel was resected. These results indicate the influence of birthweight, surgical procedure required, and presence or absence of perforation on survival and particularly surgical survival in NEC. They suggest that reviews of outcome in surgical management must take into account the extent of the surgical procedure that it was necessary to employ.