Journal of Clinical Pediatrics ›› 2025, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (11): 823-829.doi: 10.12372/jcp.2025.25e0152

• Original Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A single - center study on extrauterine growth retardation in preterm infants after surgery for necrotizing enterocolitis

YANG Mengyuan, CHEN Yanshan, PEI Wanjun, LI Jing, DONG Huifang()   

  1. Department of Neonatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China
  • Received:2025-02-24 Accepted:2025-07-09 Published:2025-11-15 Online:2025-11-06

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after surgery and to explore preventive measures. Methods A total of 72 premature infants with NEC who underwent surgical treatment and were hospitalized in the neonatal department from 2018 to 2024 were selected. They were divided into EUGR and non-EUGR groups based on the relationship between their weight at discharge and the average growth indicators for corrected gestational age. Results The incidence of EUGR in NEC premature infants after surgery was 65.28%, with a severe EUGR incidence of 33.33%. Univariate analysis found that birth gestational age, birth weight, 1-minute Apgar score, weight at the onset of NEC, proportion of oxygen therapy methods, length of intestine resected during surgery, duration of postoperative intravenous nutrition, and the maximum amount of amino acids in intravenous nutrition within one week after surgery were statistically significant factors associated with the occurrence of EUGR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a high 1-minute Apgar score and a larger weight at the onset of NEC were protective factors for EUGR, while a longer length of intestine resected during surgery was a risk factor for EUGR. Conclusion Clinical physicians should pay attention to premature infants with low Apgar scores at birth and low weight at the onset of NEC, reduce the length of intestine resected during surgery, strengthen perioperative nutritional assessment, and adjust nutritional support plans individually to reduce the incidence of EUGR.

Key words: extrauterine growth retardation, necrotizing enterocolitis, risk factors, preterm infants

CLC Number: 

  • R72