Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

Abstract

Akhil Maheshwari1, Laura L Corbin2, Robert L Schelonka21Division of Neonatology and Center for Neonatal and Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disease, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, 2Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USAAbstract: Necrotizing enterocolitis is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in preterm neonates and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants born before 32 weeks of gestation or with a birth weight less than 1500 g. In this review, we discuss predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, and the quality of evidence for various preventive and therapeutic strategies.Keywords: necrotizing enterocolitis, inflammation, mucosa, pneumatosis, neonate