How to treat neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns requires prompt management through fasting, gastrointestinal decompression, intravenous nutritional support, anti-infective therapy, symptomatic supportive treatment, and surgical intervention when necessary. This condition progresses rapidly and carries high risks, so early hospitalization and standardized treatment are essential. If a newborn develops abdominal distension, vomiting, bloody stools, or lethargy, immediate medical attention is recommended.

1. Fasting and Gastrointestinal Decompression: Immediately discontinue oral feeding and perform continuous aspiration of gastric and intestinal contents via a nasogastric tube to reduce intestinal burden, prevent food from aggravating inflammation and necrosis, and allow close observation of the drainage fluid to assess intestinal status.

2. Intravenous Nutritional Support: Administer nutrient solutions intravenously to provide proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, meeting the newborn’s growth and developmental needs, maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, and creating favorable conditions for intestinal recovery.

3. Anti-infective Therapy: Initiate broad-spectrum antibiotics based on clinical condition to cover potential pathogens, then adjust medication according to bacterial culture results to control infection spread and prevent sepsis.

4. Symptomatic and Supportive Treatment: Monitor vital signs closely. Provide respiratory support for apnea, use vasoactive drugs for hypotension, and transfuse red blood cells or plasma for anemia or coagulation disorders to maintain circulatory stability and minimize complications.

5. Surgical Treatment: For infants with bowel perforation, severe intestinal necrosis, or failure of conservative treatment, surgical resection of the necrotic bowel segment is required. Intestinal stoma may be performed if necessary, followed by delayed intestinal anastomosis once the infant's condition stabilizes, to save the child's life.

In daily care, strictly follow medical staff instructions, maintain a clean and warm environment, practice hand hygiene before touching the infant, closely monitor abdominal distension, bowel movements, and mental status, and actively cooperate with all examinations and treatments.