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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1985; 33(6): 371-373
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1014171
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum

J. Hassoulas, M. Stewart, B. Reichart
  • Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and the University of Cape Town Medical School, Cape Town, South Africa
Further Information

Publication History

1985

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occurred in 2 neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum. Both infants underwent open heart surgery for the insertion of a right ventricular outflow tract patch under profound hypothermia, surface cooling and a fibrillating heart, without circulatory arrest. In both patients the development of NEC preceded both the cardiac cetheterization study and open heart surgery. Urgent repair of the cardiac lesion was undertaken in an attempt at improving the critical bowel wall ischemia. Postoperatively, exacerbation of the NEC reached an advanced stage rapidly leading to the death of the patients.

Recommendations regarding the management of future cases exhibiting this potentially lethal combination of disease are presented.

Key words

Necrotizing enterocolitis - Cardiac surgery