Fulminant necrotising enterocolitis immediately following change to low birth weight formula feeds. |
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Authors: | P J Hammond M E Flett M De La Hunt |
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Affiliation: | Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, Glasgow, United Kingdom. philiphammond@doctors.org.uk |
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Abstract: | INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate how low birth weight formula (LBWF) feeds may be implicated in the pathogenesis of a particularly fulminant form of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case note review was undertaken of cases of fulminant NEC between 1997 and 2003 with particular regard to the feeding history. RESULTS: Nine preterm infants were stable and already tolerating full enteral feeds for a median of seven days prior to developing fulminant NEC within a median of 24 hours following the introduction of LBWF. CONCLUSIONS: Although fortification of feeds undoubtedly benefits many premature neonates, there may be a tendency for LBWF feeds to preempt the development of fulminant NEC. This possible temporal association between LBWF and fulminant NEC requires further investigation. |
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