Necrotizing enterocolitis following the surgical repair of a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in neonatal intensive care units. It often occurs in preterms with a low birth weight, associating infectious and vascular phenomena in a context of immune system immaturity. This leads to the alteration of the intestinal wall and potentially lethal complications, requiring medical support and surgical management. In full term infants, NEC is less common and an infectious hypothesis is usually suspected given the epidemic distribution of cases. Here, we report on a rare case of NEC following the surgical repair of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia.