The Comparison of Growth and Developmental Status in Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis with the Control Group

Surgery in premature neonates following Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is an awful event. There are many concerns regarding the future of these neonates. Releasing inflammatory substances following perforation can have a significant impact on the premature brain. Based on the ASQ questionnaire, we aimed at finding out whether there is any neurodevelopmental delay following NEC surgery. 

We compared developmental aspects of neonates who underwent NEC surgery with control using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ II). 

We compared 29 children that had surgical NEC in their neonatal period with their premature peers. They were homogeneous in age, sex, head circumference, weight, and Apgar count at birth in the neonatal period; they had no significant difference in the incidence of sepsis and ventilation-requiring days and cerebral incidence hemorrhage. At the study time, there was a significant difference in growth parameters, weight (p<0.001), and height (p=0.014). Also, there was no significant difference in head circumference and developmental parameters such as communication, motor, and problem-solving domains.

This study indicates that if these patients do not develop severe neurological complications in the neonatal period, their abilities are close to their premature peers in arrival to community and school. However, we still recommend close monitoring of these cases due to the possibility of impaired central nervous-gastrointestinal coordination.