Evaluation of The Relationship of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and Mortality in Premature Babies

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Necrotizing enterocolitis is one of the most common serious gastrointestinal problems in neonatal intensive care units. In this study, the relationship between necrotizing enterocolitis cases and mortality was evaluated. METHODS: This study included 157 cases of necrotizing enterocolitis of stage II and above, who were followed up and treated in Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between June 2019 and June 2021. RESULTS: 51% (80) of the cases were female and 49% (77) were male, birth weight was 1147+-436 g, gestational age was 27.9+-3.1 weeks, maternal age was 29.2+-7.4, and maternal pregnancy number was 3.59+-2.2. Distribution by birth weight, ≤1000 gr 41.4%(65), 1001-1500 g 40.8%(64), 1501-2000 g 13.4%(21), 2001-2500 g 3.2%(5) and 2501 g and above 1.3% (2) found. The distribution of the cases according to the gestation age was found to be ≤27 weeks 42.7% (67), 28-32 weeks 49% (77), 33-36 weeks 7.6% (12), and 37 weeks and above 0.6% (1). There was no statistically significant relationship between gender and maternal age and mortality. As the birth weight and gestational age decreased and the number of maternal pregnancies increased, mortality and frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis were found to increase statistically significantly (p<0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Decreased birth weight and gestational age in premature infants in the neonatal period cause a serious increase in both the frequency of necrotizing enterocolitis and the mortality rate due to necrotizing enterocolitis.

Keywords

• necrotizing enterocolitis
• newborn
• mortality