PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S R Palmer
AU  - S J Thomas
AU  - R W Cooke
AU  - D C Low
AU  - W J Fysh
AU  - J F Murphy
AU  - G M Gandy
AU  - H R Gamsu
TI  - Birthweight-specific risk factors for necrotising enterocolitis.
AID  - 10.1136/jech.41.3.210
DP  - 1987 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
PG  - 210--214
VI  - 41
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jech.bmj.com/content/41/3/210.short
4100  - http://jech.bmj.com/content/41/3/210.full
SO  - J Epidemiol Community Health1987 Sep 01; 41
AB  - In a multicentre case-control study of necrotising enterocolitis risk factors were found to vary with birthweight of cases. In very low birthweight cases the risk factors identified were those associated with prolonged or recurrent hypoxia (recurrent apnoea, respiratory distress, assisted ventilation, and umbilical artery catheterisation). In heavier birthweight infants the risk factors were, in contrast, related to hypoxia at birth (low 1 minute Apgar score and endotracheal intubation at birth) and umbilical vessel catheterisation used in exchange transfusions. Contradictory findings in published case-control studies carried out in the USA may be due to differences in patient populations and management policies. Hypoxia and umbilical vessel catheterisation should still be considered as risk factors for necrotising enterocolitis.