RT Book, Section
A1 Slaughter, Jonathan L.
A1 Moss, R. Lawrence
A2 Stevenson, David K.
A2 Cohen, Ronald S.
A2 Sunshine, Philip
SR Print(0)
ID 1109794507
T1 Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation
T2 Neonatology: Clinical Practice and Procedures
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071763769
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1109794507
RD 2024/04/20
AB Necrotizing  enterocolitis  (NEC)  remains  one  of  the  most  devastating  diagnoses  in  the  neonatal  intensive  care  unit.  Primarily  affecting  preterm  infants,  it  is  a  leading  cause  of  death  and  lifelong  gastrointestinal  and  neurodevelopmental  morbidities  in  the  very  low  birth  weight  (VLBW)  (birth  weight  <  1500  g)  population.  Despite  decades  of  research,  the  specific  etiology  for  NEC  remains  unknown.  NEC  appears  to  be  precipitated  by  an  insult  that  leads  the  immature  neonatal  immune  system  to  mount  an  abnormal  and  deleterious  inflammatory  response.  Since  many  neonates  die  or  suffer  unfavorable  outcomes  despite  maximal  medical  and  surgical  therapy,  a  preventive  strategy  is  greatly  needed.  This  chapter  reviews  the  epidemiology,  pathophysiology,  diagnostic  criteria,  and  supportive  treatment  of  NEC,  as  well  as  promising  novel,  preventive  strategies  currently  under  investigation.