Peritoneal drainage under local anesthesia for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) perforation: A second look

Between 1974 and 1979, 15 extremely ill neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were initially treated with peritoneal drainage under local anesthesia for intestinal perforation. They weighed 600 to 3040 g with half less than 1000 g. Most had other serious illnesses (RDS, PDA, jaundice, CNS abnormalities). There were no immediate complications such as hemorrhage or bowel evisceration from the local drainage procedures. Seven of the 15...