Intestinal perforation in very-low-birth-weight infants with necrotizing enterocolitis

Abstract Purpose To identify risk factors for intestinal perforation in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Methods Retrospective case–control study over a 10-year period, using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to compare all VLBW infants treated for perforated NEC, with two age and weight-matched groups: infants with non-perforated NEC and infants without NEC. Results Twenty infants with perforated NEC were matched to 20 infants with non-perforated NEC and 38 infants without NEC. Infants with perforated NEC were younger (p Conclusion Identification of abdominal distention at an early age in VLBW infants should lead to increased vigilance for signs of perforated NEC and may enable early intervention.