TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation A1 - Slaughter, Jonathan L. A1 - Moss, R. Lawrence A2 - Stevenson, David K. A2 - Cohen, Ronald S. A2 - Sunshine, Philip Y1 - 2015 N1 - T2 - Neonatology: Clinical Practice and Procedures 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. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/11/13 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1109794507 ER -