Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants
A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Neonatology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 March 2025 | Viewed by 75
Special Issue Editors
Interests: neonatal intensive care
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Background and history of this topic:
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is characterized by variable injury to the intestine, extending from full-thickness necrosis and perforation to gut mucosal ischemia and injury. NEC affects up to 10% of very low birth weight infants (less than 1500 g), with age of onset inversely related to gestational age at birth with high mortality rates (about 50%) depending on severity. Necrotizing enterocolitis may also occur in late preterm and term infants. Symptoms may be subtle and can include abdominal distention, tenderness, ileus, and systemic signs, which are nonspecific and can include any combination of apnea, decreased peripheral perfusion, bleeding diathesis, and shock. Classic radiographic findings include air in the bowel wall (pneumatosis intestinalis), air in the portal system, and free infra-diaphragmatic air (signifying perforation).
Aim and scope of this Special Issue: Necrotizing enterocolitis is a complex disease whose pathogenesis and cause remain to be defined. Although breastfeeding may be protective, many other factors are related to the mechanism of mucosal injury and the pathogenesis of this syndrome. Survivors, particularly those with severe necrotizing enterocolitis, suffer from neurodevelopmental delay, resulting in reduced quality of life for the infant and family and significant costs of treatment. Subsequently, NEC appears to remain an interesting topic for physicians and researchers.
Cutting-edge research: Efforts to improve necrotizing enterocolitis outcomes are directed toward the prevention and treatment of the disease. Nutrition such as breastfeeding, probiotics, and supplement formulas with prebiotics or synbiotics report beneficial effects in prevention strategies. Novel treatment strategies have been tested in experimental models of necrotizing enterocolitis. Nowadsays, stem cell therapy or controlled hypothermia is a therapeutic option in experimental models.
The papers we are soliciting may involve research on the prevention and treatment strategies of the disease but also the pathophysiology of the multifactorial complex disease.
Dr. Dimitra Gialamprinou
Dr. Maria Lithoxopoulou
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- necrotizing enterocolitis
- preterm infants
- nutrition
- diagnosis
- treatment
- pathophysiology
- prevention
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