Sometimes the baby will vomit, and it may feed poorly, be lethargic, have a distended abdomen, and have blood in the stool. Upon physical examination, abdominal tenderness may be seen in the baby and periumbilical darkening or redness is sometimes also seen. Occasionally, there is a fixed loop of bowel that can be felt when the abdomen is examined. Generally, if NEC is suspected an abdominal x-ray is done. This x-ray will show individuals whether there are distended or fixed loops of bowel that could possibly indicate some type of obstruction. Having air in the wall of the bowel can also be seen very early on in NEC but often resolves over a period of hours. Having air in the abdomen, however, is indicative of immediate surgery. If there is air anywhere in the abdomen this indicates that the bowel has torn or perforated and this is a life-threatening emergency, especially in a tiny premature infant. If the bowel is not torn and surgery is not necessary, it can be managed medically. Feedings will be stopped and a nasogastric tube will be placed in order to suck up the contents...
The baby will also require nutrition through an intravenous line and between one and two weeks of antibiotics. Monitoring of electrolytes, coagulation and oxygen requirements, fluid status, and other things are also often necessary with this condition. Sixty to 80% of babies that develop NEC can be managed medically and their symptoms will resolve themselves without resorting to surgery. If operations are necessary, the feedings afterwards will be started very slowly. If the bowel is torn then surgery is required and once the abdomen is opened it is likely that a swollen and dead area of bowel will be found. The goal is to leave as much of the healthy or marginally healthy bowel and intestines as possible, and an ostomy may be required (www.pedisurg.com, n.d.).
Works Cited kidshealth.org. (2004). Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Retrieved 9 February 2005 at http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/neclhtml.
A www.pedisurg.com.(n.d.). Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Retrieved 9 February 2005 at http://www.pedisurg.com/PtEduc/NEC.htm.
