Objective: Investigate predictors of postoperative morbidity and mortality in surgical NEC.
Study design: We analyzed the clinical outcomes of infants with surgical NEC from the years 2000-2015.
Results: Ninety infants born at gestation (mean ± standard deviation, SD; standard error of mean, SEM) 27.3 ± 6.6 weeks (SEM ± 0.07 weeks) and weighing 1008 ± 456 g (SEM ± 48 g) developed NEC on 25.2 ± 22.4 days (SEM ± 2.4 days). Average bowel resection was 29.2 ± 30.5 cm (SEM ± 3.2 cm). Postoperative Ileus lasted 16.5 ± 12.2 days (SEM ± 1.3 days), and was significantly longer in infants with higher gestation and birth weight, age at onset of NEC, length of intestinal resection, maternal chorioamnionitis, and need for pressors. Thirty-eight (42.2%) infants died. Mortality was higher at gestation <31 weeks.
Conclusion: Gestational age, birth weight, age at NEC onset, and length of resected bowel determined postoperative morbidity and mortality in NEC. Length of hospital stay was affected by above factors, and also the duration of postoperative ileus and parenteral nutrition.