Table 6. Clinical characteristics of medical vs. surgical NEC (n = 145).
| Characteristics | Medical (n = 57) | Surgical (n = 77) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gestational age (week) | 27.1 ± 2.4 | 26.4 ± 2.7 | 0.032 |
| Birth weight (g) | 881 ± 270.7 | 813 ± 221.8 | NS |
| Male, n (%) | 26 (45.6) | 36 (46.8) | NS |
| Antenatal steroid use | 42 (75.0) | 54 (76.1) | NS |
| PROM ≥ 18 hr | 19 (33.3) | 23 (31.1) | NS |
| Maternal chorioamnionitis | 17 (35.4) | 19 (35.9) | NS |
| Resuscitation at delivery | 54 (94.8) | 75 (98.7) | NS |
| < 36.0 C at admission | 47 (88.7) | 52 (80.0) | NS |
| Hypotension ≤ 1 week | 88 (60.41) | 63 (43.5) | NS |
| RDS | 31 (54.4) | 50 (64.9) | NS |
| Surfactant use | 39 (68.4) | 55 (71.4) | NS |
| Pneumothorax | 11 (19.3) | 11(14.3) | NS |
| Massive pulmonary hemorrhage | 10 (17.5) | 11(14.3) | NS |
| Pulmonary hypertension | 6 (10.5) | 11 (14.3) | NS |
| IVH > grade II | 19 (23.2) | 20 (18.2) | NS |
| Sepsis | 23 (40.4) | 38 (49.4) | NS |
| PDA | 26 (45.6) | 57 (74.0) | <0.001/0.002† |
| PVL | 16 (29.6) | 17 (22.4) | NS |
| PDA ligation | 11 (19.3) | 24 (31.2) | NS |
| Mortality* | 9 (15.8) | 23 (29.9) | NS |
*Of the 38 expired patients directly caused by NEC, 6 patients had a missing data on their mortality and, thereby, were excluded in this analysis; †Modified P value: according to multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting gestational age. g, gram body weight; NSD, normal spontaneous delivery; PROM, premature rupture of membrane; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome; IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; PVL, periventricular leukomalacia; PDA, patent ductus arteriosus.