In the latest issue of Acta Paediatrica there is a short communication from some neonatologists in Tampere, Finland. Hällström M, Koivisto A-m, Janas M, Tammela O. Frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis in infants born before 33 weeks of gestation. Acta Paediatr 2003;92: 111-113. Stockholm. ISSN 0803-5253 "Aim: to investigate the frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among infants of <33 wk of gestation. Methods: Prospective follow-up of 140 inpatients. Results: 26 (18.6%) subjects developed NEC stage I-III and 12 (8.6%) severe NEC (stage II-III). Breast milk fortifier and duration of morphine infusion emerged as the statistically significant factors associated with NEC stage I-III, but only the latter had a significant association with severe NEC." O.Tammela, the final author, may be contacted at [log in to unmask] I read the whole article and it is apparent that the babies who got NEC were the ones already at highest risk; they were younger and smaller than the under-33-weekers who didn't get NEC. Their size was also what determined that they got human milk fortifier. They were less stable from birth, and had a longer time lag from birth to oral feedings than the larger, more stable infants in the non-NEC group. Three babies with NEC died, all of NEC. But even in the non-NEC group there were 19 deaths out of 114 patients, which underscores previous posts pointing out that this group of babies is very vulnerable. Morphine was given to all babies on ventilators for 'pain relief and sedation' and the authors wonder whether it is the effect on gut motility which increases the risk of NEC. They call for future studies to examine whether morphine is a causative factor. Rachel Myr Norway *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html