The surgical management of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis, 1975–1984

A review was conducted of 202 neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) seen at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, over a 10-year period. The study population was biased towards the more severe cases and those requiring surgical intervention for complications. Most cases had one or more obstetric or perinatal stress factors present. Radiology was important in confirming the diagnosis and identifying those who required surgery. The indications for surgical intervention and the selection of the appropriate surgical procedure are discussed. Surgery was required for acute disease in 72 cases. In most of these, necrotic bowel was excised and temporary ostomies constructed. During the period of study the overall mortality decreased from 41% to 24%. Post-NEC strictures occurred in 18 patients, of whom 6 presented with bowel obstruction. The transverse and left colon seemed particularly susceptible to stricture formation. The diagnosis and management are described in detail. Offprints request to: A. W. Auldist at the above address     

The prognosis of low-birth-weight infants undergoing major surgery

The outcome of 158 infants of low birth weight (LBW) undergoing major surgical procedures was studies. Eighty-four patients were operated on for congenital malformations, mainly atresia of the esophagus, duodenum, and small bowel. Laparotomy for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or idiopathic perforation of the intestine and ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were the most common acquired disorders requiring surgery. In the very LBW (less than 1500 g) group, 73% of the patients underwent operations for acquired lesions. The overall mortality was 23% and for the the very LBW infants 32%. The survival rate was better for the congenital disorders (87%) than the acquired lesions (66%) as a whole, but was about the same in the very LBW subgroups. The survival rate correlated with both birth weight and gestational age in the congenital anomalies, but not in the acquired disorders subgroup; here the prognosis was mainly determined by the severity of the underlying disease. Offprint requests to: O. Zamir     

Necrotizing fasciitis in a neonate

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare condition in newborns. The diagnosis is based on characteristic clinical findings. Within a few days black-purple lesions are followed by gangrenous skin necroses. Treatment consists of surgical debridement and systemic corticosteroid therapy. A case in a newborn is presented.     

A case control study of necrotizing enterocolitis occurring over 8 years in a neonatal intensive care unit

The perinatal histories of 27 newborn infants with NEC were compared to those of 54 infants of equivalent birth weight who did not have NEC during an 8-year study period to see if possible predisposing factors were independent of the confounding effect of birth weight. No differences were observed in gestational age, degree of intrauterine growth retardation, premature rupture of membranes, perinatal asphyxia, skin temperature at admission, haematocrit, presence or absence of respiratory distress syndrome, umbilical catheter placement, start and type of feeding or presence of positive blood cultures. Prematurity is the greatest risk factor predisposing to the development of NEC and the perinatal problems which precede the onset of NEC are common among all premature infants.Abbreviation NEC necrotizing enterocolitis     

Necrotizing enterocolitis beyond the neonatal period

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is usually considered to be a neonatal disease, and is rarely described beyond the newborn period. During the last 15 years, 19 infants from the Negev region, Israel, with NEC were beyond the neonatal age group (range=34–616 days, median-90 days). Of this group only 16% were born prematurely, and only 16% had perinatal or neonatal pathology. Diarrhea and dehydration preceding NEC were common as was malnutrition. Bacteremia was detected in 42%. The mortality rate was 90%. Malnutrition, supposedly contributed to the formation of NEC and to the high mortality rate among these infants.     

A life-threatening infection: Fournier's gangrene

Fournier's gangrene is a life-threateningdisorder in which infection of the perineum andscrotum spreads along fascial planes, causingsoft tissue necrosis. If urgent surgery isdelayed, the disease will soon result in septicshock, multiorgan failure, and death. In thisstudy, we present 21 patients with Fournier'sgangrene who were treated in period between1994 and 2001. Patients' charts were reviewedretrospectively and are discussed in the lightof literature.All patients received aggressive surgicaldebridment. Penicillin or Ceftriaxone,aminoglicoside and metronidazole wereadministered intravenously. Of the 21 patients,5 had scrotal carbuncle, 1 had urethralstricture, 1 had chronic indwelling urethralcatheterization, 2 had perirectal abscess, and1 had hemorrhoidectomy. In eleven patients wecouldn't identify any cause. Twelve patientshad diabetes mellitus, and two had chronicalcoholism. Escherichia coli was isolatedin 12 purulent tissue cultures, and Bacteroides fragilis in eight. Seventeenpatients survived, whereas four died.Fournier's gangrene is considered a surgicalemergency. Early surgical intervention isessential, as the gangrene can spread rapidlyat rates reaching 2 mm per hour. So thatFournier's gangrene is an abrupt, rapidlyprogressive, gangrenous infection of theexternal genitalia and perineum and is a realurologic emergency.     

细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶在新生鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎模型中的表达及意义

目的观察新生大鼠坏死性小肠结肠炎(necrotizingenterocolitis,NEC)中细胞外信号调节激酶(extracellularsignal-regulatedkinase,ERK)的激化及胞内分布规律,探讨其在NEC发病机制中的作用。方法新生鼠随机分为不接受处理的正常对照组和NEC模型组(实验组),每组8只。于母鼠身边喂养3d,第4d处死。并取近回盲部肠组织1～2cm固定、包埋、切片、HE染色拍照,观察组织学变化及免疫组化观察ERK的表达,其它肠组织制备组织匀浆,取上清液检测肿瘤坏死因子(tumornecrosisfacror-α,TNF-α)和一氧化氮(nitricoxide,NO)的含量。结果实验组肠组织中ERK均发生活化并伴核转位(P<0.01),TNF-α、NO的含量明显升高(P<0.05)。结论ERK信号通路可能参与了NEC发病过程,并起着信号转导作用。     

Systematic review of case reports concerning adults suffering from neutropenic enterocolitis

Introduction Neutropenic enterocolitis (NEC) is a well recognised clinical-pathological and life-threatening complication in patients suffering from several conditions, including solid and haematological malignancies or aplastic anaemia. Objective This review was aimed at evaluating overall NEC mortality rate, describing clinical diagnostic findings and therapeutical interventions reported in the literature and generating a hypothesis regarding factors influencing mortality and surgical intervention. Materials and Methods An advanced search was made in Medline, Embase, Lilacs and Google. Additional strategies included manual search of specific journals. Reports were considered if they described case definition, inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results. 275 cases were selected; 109 were from individual data and 40 from grouped data. Comparing data between case reports and case series revealed no significant differences related to mortatity, surgical intervention, sex or age. Higher mortality (χ²=7.51 p=0.006) was found in women (50%) compared to men (28%). No significant difference was found between antibiotic combinations and mortality (χ²=12.85 df 13 p=0.45). Mortality (χ²=3.89 df 1, p=0.049), surgical intervention (χ²=7.64 df 1, p=0.006) and duration of diarrhoea (χ²=4.71 df 1, p=0.045) were significantly different in 26.4% of individuals using antifungal agents; death occurred in 81% of patients! who did not receive such medication compared to 19% individuals reported as being treated with antifungal agents. Conclusion The current evidence suggests that antifungal agents should be used early in patients suffering from NEC. However, this hypothesis must be evaluated in multi-centric, randomised controlled trials.     

Gastrointestinal toxicity associated with weekly docetaxel treatment.

Previous studies have demonstrated a marked reduction of haematological and non-haematological toxicity if weekly doses of docetaxel <40 mg/m2 were used. Reviewing the literature, neutropenic enterocolitis is uncommon but not unknown in patients treated with taxane-based chemotherapy. Although this complication occurs rarely, here we report on two patients, one with metastatic breast cancer and one with non-small-cell lung cancer, treated on a weekly schedule with single-agent docetaxel. Both patients developed excessive and fatal haemorrhragic gastroduodenitis and enterocolitis associated with grade 2 and 3 neutropenia. We would like to stress the importance of symptoms such as abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, diarrhoea and mucositis, with or without neutropenic fever, in patients treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy. These symptoms should alert the physician and supportive care management should be started aggressively and immediately.