1/3. Abnormal lung surfactant related to essential fatty acid deficiency in a neonate.A low-birth-weight infant, suffering from chronic bronchopulmonary dysplasia following hyaline membrane disease and recurrent episodes of necrotizing enterocolitis, developed biochemical evidence of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in the plasma. Fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol in the lung lavage fluid was abnormal. plasma changes included a decrease in the level of linoleic acid and an increased level of palmitic, palmitoleic, oleic, and 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid to arachidonic acid being greater than 0.4:1. A lower than normal level of palmitic acid and an increased level of palmitoleic and oleic acids were seen in pulmonary sufactant phospholipid components. Upon treatment and recovery from EFA deficiency, the fatty acid pattern both in plasma and surfactant phospholipids returned to normal along with clinical improvement. An association between EFA deficiency and altered fatty acid composition of pulmonary surfactant phospholipids is suggested.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = enterocolitis, necrotizing (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. Upper and lower gastrointestinal complications with dexamethasone despite H2 antagonists.OBJECTIVE: To describe three preterm babies who developed gastrointestinal complications during treatment with dexamethasone for chronic lung disease, during a 10 month period. METHODOLOGY: case reports in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: All three babies had received intravenous cimetidine since the commencement of steroid therapy, and developed gastrointestinal complications. There was no evidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in either of the two babies with gastrointestinal perforation. This is the first report of lower gastrointestinal complications associated with dexamethasone therapy. CONCLUSION: Recommendation of concomitant use of H2 antagonists with steroid therapy may be premature, and requires testing with a randomized controlled trial.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = enterocolitis, necrotizing (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. Enterocolonic fistula, a rare complication of necrotizing enterocolitis.A case of an enterocolonic fistula as a late complication of necrotizing enterocolitis is presented in a 3-month-old premature baby. The fistula was diagnosed by contrast enema. We describe the typical features of this rare complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = enterocolitis, necrotizing (Clic here for more details about this article) |