Active clinical trials for "Enterocolitis, Necrotizing"

Primary Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of bovine colostrum in prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Secondary Aim: To improve outcomes of neonatal sepsis and NEC in the pe-terrms and to decrease their hospital stay.

There is an increasing incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) affecting the premature infant population, principally those with associated risk like extreme prematurity, extreme low birth weight, associated co-morbidities (Congenital heart disease, perinatal asphyxia) and those born in hospitals with limited resources for optimal neonatal care. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), has been used in premature infants to evaluate changes in cerebral perfusion and oxygenation. (1) It provides real time insight into the oxygen delivery.(3) In the premature patient population, many neurologic injuries occur as a result of prenatal (pre-existing) and/or postnatal disturbance on oxygen delivery. NIRS has been focused in cerebral monitoring. Light easily penetrates through neonatal bone and skin tissue, and allows to monitor the subjacent oxygen content. Early studies were performed to validate NIRS measurements and have established normative data.(4-6) The non-invasive method of monitoring cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation has revolutionized the intensive care units in patients at risk for neurological injuries. This method has been successfully validated to monitor neonatal cerebral oxygenation in different clinical settings and study protocols. (7) NIRS provides non-invasive, continuous information on tissue perfusion and oxygen dynamics. One of the biggest challenges of NEC spectrum diseases is in the making of early diagnosis. It is important to monitor not just cerebral perfusion but also the intestinal oxygenation.(8,9) Previous studies with NIRS have demonstrated that premature infants change their cerebral - splanchnic oxygenation ratios during feedings.(10) Guy et al. performed NIRS in premature piglets to demonstrate association of perfusion change with NEC spectrum(11,12); these studies suggest evidence that NIRS could be a useful diagnostic tool in the premature infant population trough abdominal NIRS (a-NIRS) measurement capable of detecting alterations in intestinal oxygenation and perfusion. In summary, a-NIRS could be use in the premature infant population to define reference values, especially in patients at risk, which would then facilitate the early diagnosis of NEC spectrum diseases.

This is a cross-sectional study to evaluate the utilities of a panel of biomarkers (Procalcitonin, Interleukin-6, Serum Amyloid A and Apolipoprotein C2) versus the gold standard blood culture result diagnosing late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) and/or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Neonates who meet the initial screening criteria for suspected LONS or NEC will be recruited into the study. A group of 50 neonates who are clinically well, admitted to the nursery or general ward for reasons other than neonatal sepsis or NEC will also be recruited into the study.

The investigators are studying a disease called "necrotizing enterocolitis" (or "NEC" for short), which affects premature infants. It is the most common surgical emergency involving neonates admitted to Newborn Intensive Care Units. Currently, clinicians are unable to identify which infants will go on to develop NEC before they become ill. Clinical signs of illness occur relatively late in the course of the condition, making NEC more difficult to treat. The investigators will test a new probe that uses safe levels of visible and infrared light, with and without ultrasound imaging, to see if the investigators can identify infants before they get sick using a simple, noninvasive test, This test will be repeated through at least one feeding (which stresses the gut) each day. If successful, the health benefit will be large, as it is estimated that treating NEC alone (not including treating its later complications) adds $650 million to the annual health bill.

In recent days, necrotizing enterocolitis is one of the most common and devastating problem in preterm infants. Therefore, it became a high growing research topic in the last decade. The development of medical care increases the survival of preterm babies and consequently increase the number of cases with this serious problem. A systematic review shows the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis is about 2-7% in babies less than 32weeks gestation and 5-22% in baby's birth weight less than 1000gram.

The study aims to compare routine assessment of gastric residuals versus no assessment of residuals in preterm neonates with respect to time taken for achieving full enteral feeding and the incidence of possible complications, such as feeding intolerance, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis etc.

The purpose of this trial is to study the effect that anemia and Red Blood Cell (RBC) transfusions have on oxygen levels in the digestive tracts of Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) infants and to look for possible markers in a baby's blood, urine and/or stool that may lead to a better understanding of what makes an ELBW infant at risk for digestive tract problems such as necrotizing enterocolitis.

Bloody stool is a main focus in non-neonatal intensive care unit ward, and it is one of the risk factors in neonates with subsequent necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC) and usually lead to longed duration of hospitalization. NEC is one of the most serious disease in the newborn infants, and two and more grades of NEC might lead to surgery, even death. But, it is difficult to predict when the bloody stool comes and develop to two and more grades of NEC.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of mortality among preterm infants.The pathogenesis of NEC remains unclear with conflicting data regarding the role of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and anemia. A meta-analysis of retrospective studies demonstrated an association between exposure to RBC transfusion and NEC(adjusted odds ratio, 2.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.6-2.5]). However, recent observational studies have found no association between RBC transfusion and NEC or have found RBC transfusion to be protective.

The general objectives of this protocol are to develop a multi-center prospective data collection process to identify risk factors for progression of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). These data will be used as a basis for identifying management strategies appropriate for further evaluation (randomized controlled trials), to develop evidence-based standards of care, and as a tool to facilitate quality-assessment at individual centers through comparison of outcomes with the entire database.