Surgical and nutritional outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants with enterostomy: a single-center retrospective study in China.

BACKGROUND

We investigated the outcomes of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants who underwent intestinal enterostomy.

METHODS

This retrospective study included ELBW infants who were hospitalized from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, and underwent enterostomy. Data regarding demographic information, complications, and outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

In total, 52 ELBW infants who underwent enterostomy were enrolled. Among them, 30 (57.7%) had necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and 10 (19.2%) had spontaneous intestinal perforation. Forty-seven infants survived at discharge. Twenty-nine infants developed intestinal failure, while 36 developed short bowel syndrome. The median gestational age in the intestinal failure group was 26.9 (1.9) weeks, lower than that of 27.2 (1.5) weeks in the non-intestinal failure group (p = 0.024). Infants with intestinal failure achieved full enteral nutrition at an average age of 112(32) days; this was significantly greater than the age of 71(41) days in the non-intestinal failure group (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

NEC was the main disease in ELBW infants undergoing intestinal enterostomy, with a high incidence of SBS and IF postoperatively. Infants with IF have a lower gestational age and a longer parenteral nutrition duration. This finding highlights the need for more rational nutritional strategies.