Necrotizing enterocolitis.

In summary, NEC is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the newborn. Premature infants are the most likely affected. Although progress has been made in elucidating some of the factors responsible for NEC, the exact etiology is still unclear. Aggressive medical management is required, but indications for surgical intervention differ from institution to institution. Overall mortality remains about 20% to 40%. About one half of survivors seem to have no sequelae, but the remaining infants may have significant ones which require additional surgical intervention or produce life long problems. Efforts at prevention have not been very successful. The single most important prophylactic measure would be to prevent prematurity. Until the exact pathogenesis of NEC is better understood, effective preventive measures are unlikely to be developed.