Necrotizing enterocolitis in the asphyxiated full-term infant

Five full term infants with necrotizing enterocolitis, confirmed histologically, presented in the first five days of life. All passed grossly bloody stools and three mucosal casts. Severe perinatal asphyxia with accompanying secondary hyperammonemia was present in all, and abnormal liver function studies were present in three. An awareness of the clinical characteristics of these infants may lead to their early identification and conservative management.