Necrotising enterocolitis Flashcards
What is Necrotising enterocolitis?
NEC is an acute inflammatory disease, predominantly affecting preterm infants. It can lead to bowel necrosis, multi-system organ failure and is life-threatening. Prompt recognition of NEC and appropriate treatment is vital
What is the mortality rate of necrotising enterocolitis?
50%
What is the most common complication of necrotising enterocolitis?
Bowel perforation
Why is that necrotising enterocolitis almost exclusively affects neonates?
neonates have immature GI tracts, permitting for overwhelming infection
Give 3 risk factors for necrotising enterocolitis in neonates:
1) prematurity
2) low birth weight
3) formula feeding (particularly high osmotic strength formula)
Give 6 symptoms associated with necrotising enterocolitis (note that the presentation is highly variable and non-specific):
- decreased appetite
- Decreased activity and fatigue
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal distension
- Blood in stool
What signs may be seen in severe cases of necrotising enterocolitis?
1) respiratory failure
2) circulatory collapse (cyanosis, irresponsiveness)
How is necrotising enterocolitis diagnosed?
abdominal X-ray (anterior, posterior and lateral view)
Give 3 X-ray signs that indicate necrotising enterocolitis:
1) dilated loops of bowel
2) pneumatosis intestinalis (gas in the bowel wall)
3) free air in the bowel wall (indicates perforation)
Give the four steps of treatment for necrotising enterocolitis:
1) resuscitation of vital signs (ABCDE)
2) stop all feeding - give NG tube to decompress dilated bowels and commence total parenteral feeding
3) commence broad spectrum IV antibiotics
4) laparotomy (surgery) if the condition worsens or bowel perforates
What are the common three antibiotics given simultaneously to treat necrotising enterocolitis?
1) ampicillin
2) gentamicin
3) clindamycin/ metronidazole
What are 5 other risk factors asides from premature births?
- Abnormal dopplers (measuring blood flow from the placenta to the baby)
- Antibiotic courses lasting longer than 10 days or multiple courses of antibiotics
- Enteral feeding
- Use of cow’s milk formula
- Congenital heart disease
What are the typical clinical findings of necrotising enterocolitis?
Abdominal distension, tender to palpation and can feel tense or “wooden”
Reduced bowel sounds
Palpable abdominal mass
Visible intestinal loops
Signs of sepsis (e.g. lethargy, temperature instability, haemodynamic instability)
What are 4 general complications of NEC?
- Bowel perforation
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Sepsis
- Adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes (especially in infants who undergo surgery)
Is necrotising enterocolitis an emergency?
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening gastrointestinal emergency that primarily affects premature neonates. It’s characterized by inflammation and necrosis (death) of intestinal tissue, often involving the terminal ileum and proximal colon.
Who gets NEC?
Premature infants (especially <32 weeks gestation or <1500g birth weight)
Formula-fed babies (higher risk vs. breastfed)
Infants with intestinal ischemia, sepsis, or congenital heart defects
Why do babies get necrotising enterocolitis?
- Immature gut barrier (in preemies)
- Bacterial colonization (imbalance of normal flora)
- Enteral feeding (especially formula)
→ These lead to inflammation, mucosal injury, bacterial translocation, and eventually intestinal necrosis.
At what stage of life does necrotising enterocolitis?
Usually appear within the first 2–3 weeks of life.
How can we prevent NEC?
Breastfeeding (protective)
Avoid overfeeding or rapid advancement of feeds
Use of probiotics in some neonatal units
Careful monitoring in preterm infants
