Damage control laparotomy for generalized necrotizing enterocolitis

Macroscopic generalized necrotizing enterocolitis (G-NEC) is associated with a very high mortality in neonates. In some instances, however, multiple bowel segments are necrotic, with most of the remaining small bowel damaged but viable. In these selected patients morbidity can be reduced and survival increased with an aggressive and early surgical approach. We have termed this approach damage control laparotomy (DCL). Over a 5(1/2)-year period, all neonates with G-NEC with adequate length of viable small bowel were subjected to DCL. The procedure is characterized by a resuscitative period of a few hours followed by laparotomy and resection of dead/perforated bowel. The bowel ends are either anastomosed or tied, and the bowel is returned to the abdomen to allow full tissue demarcation. Re-look laparotomy is performed 3-4 days later, at which time any new necrotic bowel is excised and re-joined, to achieve small bowel continuity. In this prospective study, 104 neonates with G-NEC underwent operation; 27 neonates (26%) were considered to have an adequate potential length of viable bowel and were selected for DCL. Nineteen neonates survived in the follow-up period. Early mortality was due to sepsis syndrome in 6 patients, and late mortality in 2 neonates was secondary to the short bowel syndrome. The DCL procedure is another step toward improving survival in surgical G-NEC; this technique avoids proximal stomas and their complications, and at the same time it preserves the best possible bowel length.