Necrotizing enterocolitis

Definition

A rare intestinal disease characterized by potentially life-threatening inflammatory bowel necrosis predominantly affecting preterm neonates. Patients may present with feeding intolerance, lethargy, temperature instability, abdominal distention, blood-stained stools, diarrhea, bilious vomiting, apnea, and signs of sepsis. Radiographic features include pneumatosis intestinalis, portal venous gas, presence of fixed, dilated intestinal loops, bowel wall edema, and (in case of bowel perforation) pneumoperitoneum.