Necrotizing Enterocolitis in the Full Term Neonate
Topic overview
Retrospective study comparing necrotizing enterocolitis in full-term versus preterm neonates over 10 years. Full-term infants with NEC had higher rates of congenital heart disease but lower disease severity and surgical intervention rates, suggesting distinct pathophysiology from preterm NEC.
Key takeaways
- 17% of NEC cases occurred in full-term infants, with 64% having undergone cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects
- Full-term infants with NEC had less severe disease: only 18% required surgery vs 59% in preterm infants
- Preterm NEC patients more often had Bell stage 3 disease (82% vs 43%) and required vasopressor support (42% vs 21%)
- Different clinical patterns between term and preterm NEC suggest these may be distinct disease entities requiring tailored approaches
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