[Necrotizing enterocolitis: a 10-year survey].

We reviewed the records of all infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) who had been diagnosed in "Teresa Herrera" Hospital in La Coruña between 1984 and 1994. We tried to determine the risk factors that could influence at the beginning of the disease, the clinic presentation, and the basic aspects of treatment. All cases of ECN with clinic-radiologic confirmation were examined (Bell stages II and III). With this approach, a general questionnaire containing records, clinical presentation, and treatment, was applied to all cases. In our revision, we found that neonate most at risk is that one with an average gestational age of 35 weeks, a mean weight of 2500 gr., with a laborious delivery and who was admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit for an important disease. The onset of NEC was more frequent in the first 15 days of life, and clinical and radiological features were used to confirm the disease. In 86% of the cases, oral feeding had begun. Surgery was needed in 36% of the cases, of which 86% suffered from gut perforation, terminal ileum being the most frequent localization. The general mortality was 12%. Only one of the operated patient died. We conclude that in the appearance of NEC there are a lot of influential factors, including perinatal stress, prematurity and a low birth weight. Clinical symptoms are haemodynamic instability, abdominal distension and bloody stools, obtaining confirmation through radiology in 87%. We consider the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and exhaustive observation by children's surgeon to indicate early surgery.