Surgical therapy of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

: Between 1972 and 1988, a total of 57 patients with an average birth weight of 1988 g and an average gestational age of 34.1 weeks were operated on for neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. In 48% of the cases, the critical indication for surgery was determined by clinical examination; in 52% of the cases, the indication was based upon a radiological diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum. The affected intestinal portions were first resected. Then, the proximal and distal limbs were sewn together and brought out through a separate short incision. Utilizing this procedure, the lethal rate sank from above 80% to below 30%. Taking into account unrelated causes of death, no significant increase in risk has been associated with the use of this procedure on prematurely born patients and patients exhibiting acute intestinal perforations.