Necrotizing enterocolitis: The impact of the establishment of a department of pediatric surgery on the Beilinson Medical Campus

Cases of confirmed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the most common gastrointestinal disease among the newly born, were surveyed at the Beilinson Medical Center during a 12-year period to determine whether the establishment of a department of pediatric surgery has influenced the treatment and outcome of NEC patients. Forty-eight patients were divided into two groups: group I was treated by the staff of the General Surgery Department while group II was treated by the new pediatric surgery department. It was found that 32% of the group II patients were of extremely low birthweight (<1,000 g) compared with 13% of group I. Due to improved supportive treatment, total mortality decreased from 22% in group I to 8% in group II.