Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Associate professor
Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis is a disease of unknown origin. Epidemiological observations emphasize the potential roles of infection, enteric feeding and local vascular compromise of the Gastrointestinal tract in the pathogenesis of this disease. Clinical findings include signs of sepsis , plus abdominal distention , vomiting, bloody stool and occasionally , signs of intestinal perforation and peritonitis. Serial plain abdominal films necessary to confirm the diagnosis, although, distention of intestinal loops could be the only radiological finding, pneumatosis intestinalis with or without portal air are pathognomonic. In this report, 20 cases of NEC over a period of 8 years (1984-1992) are reported. Four out of 20 were below one month and 16 between one month to 3 years of age. Fourteen cases followed an episode of acute gastroenteritis. Among our patients 3 developed NEC after using diphenoxylate for diarrhea prior to admission. In 9 patients moderate to severe malnutrition was notable . Seventeen patients were formula fed, only 3 cases were surgically treated. Mortality rate among our patients was 30℅.
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