Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common surgical disease in premature neonates, however, it may occasionally occur in term neonates. The etiology of NEC in prematurity is multifactorial but is still not well understood in term neonates. In this study, the maternal and neonatal risk f...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ayman Elhosny, Corné de Vos, Behrouz Banieghbal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EL-Med-Pub 2020-09-01
Series:Journal of Neonatal Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/ojs/index.php/jns/article/view/537
_version_ 1818759442698600448
author Ayman Elhosny
Corné de Vos
Behrouz Banieghbal
author_facet Ayman Elhosny
Corné de Vos
Behrouz Banieghbal
author_sort Ayman Elhosny
collection DOAJ
description Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common surgical disease in premature neonates, however, it may occasionally occur in term neonates. The etiology of NEC in prematurity is multifactorial but is still not well understood in term neonates. In this study, the maternal and neonatal risk factors, along with underlying pathology that may precipitate NEC in term neonates are investigated.  Methods: A retrospective study investigating the maternal and neonatal risk factors for NEC in term neonates (G.A ≥37 weeks) was performed over an 8-years period (January 2009 to March 2017). We used the second group of healthy term neonates over the same period as a control group. The data were collected from medical records. Term babies with the primary diagnosis of NEC were included in the review. Premature neonates (G.A <37 weeks) and NEC secondary to intestinal obstruction (e.g. Hirschsprung’s disease) were excluded from the study. Results: Of 194 babies with NEC, 14 were term neonates. Maternal risk factors: maternal age, Rhesus status, nicotine use, medication use, chronic and gestational illness were not found to be significant, however, maternal methamphetamine (MA) abuse was found to be a significant risk factor. Neonatal risk factors: genetic disorder, mode of delivery, type of milk, and invasive procedure were not found to be significant, but the presence of congenital heart disease (CHD) was a significant risk factor. Three neonates with CHD (3/4) in the group of term neonates with NEC also had maternal MA use. Conclusion: NEC in term neonates is rarely encountered. CHD is well known to precipitate the disease in premature or full-term neonates, as also noted in this cohort. MA usage was also noted as a possible underlying cause.
first_indexed 2024-12-18T06:42:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-80469eab85b545a88d1903f9d56d2656
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2226-0439
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-18T06:42:48Z
publishDate 2020-09-01
publisher EL-Med-Pub
record_format Article
series Journal of Neonatal Surgery
spelling doaj.art-80469eab85b545a88d1903f9d56d26562022-12-21T21:17:35ZengEL-Med-PubJournal of Neonatal Surgery2226-04392020-09-01910.47338/jns.v9.537Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factorsAyman Elhosny0Corné de Vos1Behrouz Banieghbal2Paediatric Surgery Department at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaPaediatric Surgery Department at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaPaediatric Surgery Department at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaBackground: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common surgical disease in premature neonates, however, it may occasionally occur in term neonates. The etiology of NEC in prematurity is multifactorial but is still not well understood in term neonates. In this study, the maternal and neonatal risk factors, along with underlying pathology that may precipitate NEC in term neonates are investigated.  Methods: A retrospective study investigating the maternal and neonatal risk factors for NEC in term neonates (G.A ≥37 weeks) was performed over an 8-years period (January 2009 to March 2017). We used the second group of healthy term neonates over the same period as a control group. The data were collected from medical records. Term babies with the primary diagnosis of NEC were included in the review. Premature neonates (G.A <37 weeks) and NEC secondary to intestinal obstruction (e.g. Hirschsprung’s disease) were excluded from the study. Results: Of 194 babies with NEC, 14 were term neonates. Maternal risk factors: maternal age, Rhesus status, nicotine use, medication use, chronic and gestational illness were not found to be significant, however, maternal methamphetamine (MA) abuse was found to be a significant risk factor. Neonatal risk factors: genetic disorder, mode of delivery, type of milk, and invasive procedure were not found to be significant, but the presence of congenital heart disease (CHD) was a significant risk factor. Three neonates with CHD (3/4) in the group of term neonates with NEC also had maternal MA use. Conclusion: NEC in term neonates is rarely encountered. CHD is well known to precipitate the disease in premature or full-term neonates, as also noted in this cohort. MA usage was also noted as a possible underlying cause.https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/ojs/index.php/jns/article/view/537Necrotizing enterocolitisNECTermNeonatesRisk factorsMethamphetamine
spellingShingle Ayman Elhosny
Corné de Vos
Behrouz Banieghbal
Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors
Journal of Neonatal Surgery
Necrotizing enterocolitis
NEC
Term
Neonates
Risk factors
Methamphetamine
title Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors
title_full Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors
title_fullStr Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors
title_full_unstemmed Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors
title_short Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: Possible risk factors
title_sort necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates possible risk factors
topic Necrotizing enterocolitis
NEC
Term
Neonates
Risk factors
Methamphetamine
url https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/ojs/index.php/jns/article/view/537
work_keys_str_mv AT aymanelhosny necrotizingenterocolitisintermneonatespossibleriskfactors
AT cornedevos necrotizingenterocolitisintermneonatespossibleriskfactors
AT behrouzbanieghbal necrotizingenterocolitisintermneonatespossibleriskfactors