Delay in achieving enteral autonomy and growth outcomes in very low birth weight infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis

OBJECTIVE: To understand the nutritional intake and growth outcomes of very low birth weight infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). STUDY DESIGN: In a retrospective cohort study, linear mixed models were used to compare growth outcomes from birth to 24 months corrected age for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with surgical NEC to those with spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP). Kaplan-Meier curves were developed to demonstrate the duration of parenteral nutrition (PN) use. RESULT: Height differed by surgical NEC and SIP over time (interaction p = 0.03). Surviving infants with surgical NEC had lower head circumference z-scores at 24 months. Of infants surviving surgical NEC, 71% received PN for >60 days after diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The majority of infants with surgical NEC have a delay in achieving enteral autonomy. There was a difference in linear catch-up growth over time between infants with SIP and surgical NEC at 24 months.