Low risk of necrotising enterocolitis in enterally fed neonates with critical heart disease: an observational study.

Observational study of 458 infants with critical congenital heart disease found only 0.9% developed necrotizing enterocolitis despite 97% receiving preoperative enteral feeding. Results challenge the practice of withholding feeds before cardiac surgery, suggesting preoperative enteral nutrition does not increase NEC risk in this population.