Necrotising enterocolitis experience with 54 neonates.

Fifty-four neonates transferred to the neonatal surgical unit because of acute necrotising enterocolitis (N.E.C.) are presented. Eleven died (20.4%), of whom seven were treated conservatively and four by operation. Ten patients required surgical exploration because of intestinal perforation, obstruction or suspected perforation. Another five neonates presented with intestinal perforation and were treated by percutaneous catheter drainage of the peritoneal cavity because of their extreme prematurity. Nine patients developed a colonic stricture diagnosed between six weeks and a year after the onset of the disease. Another six patients showed a segment of colonic narrowing detected on barium enema radiography without clinical evidence of bowel obstruction. They were treated conservatively and showed complete resolution at follow up studies.