Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: an update.

We reviewed 91 cases of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NNEC), which continues to be a devastating disease occurring in 2% to 4% of all newborn intensive care unit admissions. Onset now occurs in older infants (11.9 days). The morbidity is significant (22%), with strictures (8%) and recurrences (8%) the primary problems. Recurrences are more likely to require surgical intervention and result in a high mortality. Early diagnosis of necrotic bowel before perforation, peritoneal contamination, and sepsis is difficult and contributes to the still high, but improved, overall mortality of 36%.