Clinical and Growth Correlates of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm infants with Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis and intestinal Perforation.

BACKGROUND

we sought to determine the clinical and growth parameters associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and spontaneous ileal perforation (SIP).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study comparing clinical information before and following NEC/SIP onset in neonates with and without severe ROP (Type 1 and 2).

RESULTS

Those with severe ROP (32/109, 39.5%) had lower GA, BW, chorioamnionitis, later median onset of ROP diagnosis and received Penrose drain and had higher AKI, poor weight z scores, poor linear growth, longer duration of ventilation and higher FIo2 than those without ROP following NEC/SIP. The GA and diagnosis at later age remained significant for any ROP on multi regression modelling.

CONCLUSION

The surgical NEC/SIP infants with severe ROP were more likely to be younger, smaller, had AKI, had higher oxygen exposure and poor weight gain and linear growth than those without severe ROP.