Intestinal location of necrotizing enterocolitis among infants with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether differences exist in the location of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) versus those without CHD. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study utilizing 11 years of patient data. Inclusion criterion was surgical exploration for NEC. Presence or absence of CHD was determined. Surgical and/or pathology reports were reviewed to identify the location of NEC. Data were analyzed by t-tests and chi(2) analyses. RESULT: One hundred and sixty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria. CHD infants had a higher percentage of mortality. There was no difference in the location of NEC between non-CHD and CHD patients, with the predominant location being the small intestine in both. In addition, there was no difference in the location of NEC between preterm non-CHD patients and full-term CHD patients with the small intestine again being the primary site. CONCLUSION: Despite differences in gestational age between non-CHD and CHD patients, the location of NEC in these infants did not differ.