Abstract
Of 149 infants with esophageal atresia treated during a 13-year period, 5 (3%) developed postoperative necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Four of the 5 were premature with birth weights below 1.8 kg (Waterston group C), and all were from a group of 17 awaiting delayed primary esophageal anastomosis. In each case, NEC occurred suddenly and death ensued within 5 days. NEC should be included in the list of complications resulting from, or associated with, delayed primary repair of esophageal atresia.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amoury RA, Goodwin CD, McGill CW, Smith TH, Ashcraft KW, Holder TM (1980) Necrotizing enterocolitis following operation in the neonatal period. J Pediatr Surg 15: 1–8
Bayston R, Leung TSM, Spitz L (1984) Faecal flora in neonates with oesophageal atresia. Arch Dis Child 59: 126–130
Brereton RJ, Zachary RB, Spitz L (1978) Preventable death in oesophageal atresia. Arch Dis Child 53: 276–283
Hackett GA, Campbell S, Gamsu H, Cohen-Overbeek T, Pearce JMF (1987) Doppler studies in the growth retarded fetus and prediction of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, haemorrhage, and neonatal morbidity. Br Med J 294: 13–16
Irving IM, Pabst FL (1982) Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis following surgery for spina bifida. Z Kinderchir 37: 165–167
Kleinman PK, Winchester P, Brill PW (1976) Necrotizing enterocolitis after open heart surgery employing hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass. AJR Am J Roentgenol 127: 757–760
Kluth D (1976) Atlas of esophageal atresia. J Pediatr Surg 11: 901–919
Kosloske AM (1984) Pathogenesis and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis: a hypothesis based on personal observation and a review of the literature. Pediatrics 74: 1086–1092
Lafferty K, Brereton RJ, Wright VM (1983) Necrotizing enterocolitis in small bowel atresia. Z Kinderchir 38: 224–227
Lawrence G, Bates J, Gaul A (1982) Pathogenesis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Lancet I: 137–139
Leung TSM, Bayston R, Spitz L (1986) Bacterial colonisation of the upper pouch in neonates with esophageal atresia. Z Kinderchir 41: 78–80
Lister J, Tam PKH (1990) Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. In: Lister J, Irving IM (eds) Neonatal surgery, 3rd edn. Butterworths, London, pp 485–498
Mollitt DL, Golladay ES (1982) Postoperative neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. J Pediatr Surg 17: 757–762
Tanner NC, Hardy KJ (1968) Acute necrotizing enterocolitis. Br J Surg 55: 379–381
Touloukian RJ, Posch JN, Spencer R (1972) The pathogenesis of ischemic gastro-enterocolitis of the neonate; selective gut mucosal ischemia in asphyxiated neonatal piglets. J Pediatr Surg 7: 194–205
Waterston DJ, Bonham Carter RE, Aberdeen E (1962) Oesophageal atresia: tracheo-oesophageal fistula. A study of survival in 218 infants. Lancet I: 819–822
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stringer, M.D., Brereton, R.J. & Wright, V.M. Necrotizing enterocolitis in infants with esophageal atresia awaiting delayed primary repair. Pediatr Surg Int 7, 353–355 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176591
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00176591