Abstract
Improvement in survival rates of low birth-weight infants particularly in the neonatal intensive care units of India appears to be accompanied by frequent recognition of Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among early survivors. As the philosophy and practice of advanced care for tiny infants becomes more acceptable and affordable in the country, a steady increase in survival of such infants is predictable. However there is growing concern in India that NEC could become a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in the future. NEC is currently regarded as the most common acquired gastrointestinal emergency in the newborn period, and the outcome of this disease is universally poor. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of this condition is required for formulating optimal principles of prevention and management.
Key words: Necrotizing Enterocolitis, LBW infants, Aetiology
References
- 1.Mizrahi A, Barlow O, Berdon W, Blane WA, Silverman W. A Necrotizing Enterocolitis in premature infants. J Pediatr. 1965;66:697–706. doi: 10.1016/S0022-3476(65)80003-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.Ryder RW, Shelton JD, Guinan ME. Necrotizing enterocolitis A Prospective Multicenter Investigation. Am J Epidemiol. 1980;112:113–123. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a112960. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Uauy RD, Fanaroff AA, Korones SB, Philips E, Philips J, Wright L. Necrotizing Enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants: biodemographic and clinical correlates. J Pediatr. 1991;119:630–638. doi: 10.1016/S0022-3476(05)82418-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Covert RF, Neu J, Elliot MJ, Rea JL, Gimotty PA. Factors associated with age of onset of necrotizing enterocolitis. Am J Perinatal. 1989;6(4):455–460. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-999639. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Lucas A, Cole TJ. Breast milk and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Lancet. 1990;336:1519–1525. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(90)93304-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Kliegman RM. Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis bridging the basic science with the clinical disease. J Pediatr. 1990;117:833–834. doi: 10.1016/S0022-3476(05)83354-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Kleigman RM, Walker WA, Yoken RH. Necrotizing Enterotizing Research Agenda for a Disease of Etiology and Pathogeneis. Paediatric Research. 1993;6:34–34. doi: 10.1203/00006450-199312000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Egan EA, Mantilla G, Nelson RM, Eitzman D. A prospective controlled trial of oral kanamycin (in the prevention of) necrotizing enterocolitis. j PEdiatr. 1976;89:467–471. doi: 10.1016/S0022-3476(76)80553-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 9.Nowicki PT, Nankervis CA. The role of the circulation in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis. Clin Perinatal. 1994;21(2):219–234. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 10.Benirschke K. Necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn infant Report of 68th Ross Conference on Pediatric Research Columbus, Ohio, Ross Laboratories 1974: 27.
- 11.Yu Victor YH, Tudenope David I. Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis: 2: Perinatal Risk Factors. Med J Aust. 1977;1:688–693. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1977.tb131029.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Wiswell TE, Robertson CF, Jones TA, Tuttle DJ. Necrotizing enterocolitis in full-term infants. A case-control study. Am J Dis Child. 1998;142(5):532–535. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1988.02150050070034. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Caplan MS, Kelly A, Hsueh W. Endotoxin and hypoxia induced intestinal necrosis in rats: the role of platelet activating factor. Pediatr Res. 1992;31:428–434. doi: 10.1203/00006450-199205000-00002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 14.Halac E, Halac J, Begue EF, et al. Prenatal and postnatal corticosteroid therapy to prevent neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: a controlled trial. J Pediatr. 1990;117:132–138. doi: 10.1016/S0022-3476(05)72461-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 15.Bell MJ, Tearberg JL, Feigch RD, et al. Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Therapeutic decisions based upon clinical staging. Ann Surg. 1978;187(1):1–7. doi: 10.1097/00000658-197801000-00001. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 16.Walsh MC, Kleigman RM. Necrotizing enterocolitis: Treatment based on staging criteria. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1986;33:179–201. doi: 10.1016/S0031-3955(16)34975-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17.Maalouf EF, Fagberni A, Duggan Pet al. Magnetic resonance imaging of intestinal necrosis in preterm infants.Abstr Hot Topics in Neonatology. [DOI] [PubMed]
- 18.Samaniego Munoz M, Sanchez Navarro MR, Serum CK BB. A biochemical marker in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. An Esp Pediatr. 1996;44(6):577–580. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 19.Kosloske AM. SuRgery of necrotizing enterocolitis. World J Surg. 1985;9:277–284. doi: 10.1007/BF01656321. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 20.Kleigman RM, Fanaroff AA. Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis a nine year experience (II) Outcome assessment. Am J Dis Child. 1981;135(7):608–611. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1981.02130310014006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 21.Chaco J, Ford WDA, Haslam R. Growth and neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely-low-birth-weight infants after laparotomy. Pediatr Surg Int. 1999;15:1–4. doi: 10.1007/s003830050498. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 22.Vasan U, Sotoff SP. Prevention of Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis clinics. Perinatology. 1994;21(2):425–435. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 23.Bury RG, Tadehope. Enteral antibiotics for preventing Necortizing Entercolitis in low birth weight or preterm infants.Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000; 2: CD 000405. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 24.Crowley P, Chalmers I, Keines JNC, et al. The effects of corticosteroid administration before delivery: Overview of the evidence from controlled trials. Br J Obstet Gyanecology. 1990;97:11–17. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1990.tb01711.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 25.Carver JD, Barness CA. Trophic factors for the gastrointestinal tract. Clin Perinatol. 1996;23(2):265–285. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 26.Neu J, Roig JC, Mectze WH, et al. Enteral glutamine supplementation for very low birth weight infants decreases morbidity. J Pediatr. 1997;131:691–694. doi: 10.1016/S0022-3476(97)70095-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
