[Digestive stenoses following ulcero-necrotizing enterocolitis]

Over a 10-year period, the authors followed the course of 112 neonates treated for primary acute necrotizing enterocolitis. Ten cases of gastrointestinal stricture were diagnosed, regardless of initial treatment, after an interval of 20 days to 6 months. The site of the stricture was colonic in 6 patients, ileal in three other patients and ileal and colonic in the remaining patient. The stricture was treated surgically in 9 patients (resection-anastomosis in 6 cases, resection with gastrointestinal diversion in 2 cases and isolated gastrointestinal diversion in 1 case). A follow-up barium enema in 1 patient showed spontaneous resolution of the stricture. With a mean follow-up of 5 years, the over all result was considered to be good in 7 cases and poor in one case. Two deaths were observed, one on the 10th day and the other at the 3rd postoperative day. These complications appeared to be related to the delayed diagnosis and treatment of the stricture.