Necrotizing Enterocolitis Associated with Congenital Heart Disease: a Different Entity?
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Topic overview
Abstract
Background
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) predominantly occurs in preterm infants (PT-NEC). In term neonates, NEC occurs more frequently when a congenital heart disease is present (CHDNEC). Our aim was to evaluate differences and similarities in disease characteristics of PT-NEC versus CHD-NEC.
Methods
In this retrospective case–control study we identified all CHD infants who developed NEC Bell's stage ≥2 in our center from 2004 to 2014. We randomly selected (1:2 ratio) PT-NEC infants from the same period. Biochemical and clinical variables were retrieved from patient files.
Results
We found 18 CHD-NEC infants and selected 36 PT-NEC infants (gestational age 28.3 [25–35.6] weeks vs. 38.6 [31.7–40.7] weeks). Postnatal age at onset was significantly lower in CHD-NEC patients (4 [2–24] vs. 11 [4–41] days, p
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