Low molecular weight dextran in the treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis and midgut volvulus in infants

Because of its abilities to reduce thrombus formation, low molecular-weight dextran was administered to eight newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis and two infants with midgut volvulus. The enterocolitis group which received dextran when compared with an otherwise similarly treated group which did not receive dextran, revealed the following differences: half of the dextran-treated group did not require operation while all of the patients not receiving dextran did. Although repeated perforation and late intestinal strictures occurred commonly in the group which did not receive dextran, no dextran-treated infant demonstrated either of these complications. The patients with midgut volvulus receiving dextran demonstrated remarkable recovery of bowel at reexploration, despite the widespread ischemic appearance of bowel at initial operation. No complications from the use of dextran were encountered.