Initial Laparotomy Versus Peritoneal Drainage in Extremely Low Birthweight Infants With Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis or Isolated Intestinal Perforation: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to determine which initial surgical treatment results in the lowest rate of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or isolated intestinal perforation (IP).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA:

The impact of initial laparotomy versus peritoneal drainage for NEC or IP on the rate of death or NDI in extremely low birth weight infants is unknown.

METHODS:

We conducted the largest feasible randomized trial in 20 US centers, comparing initial laparotomy versus peritoneal drainage. The primary outcome was a composite of death or NDI at 18 to 22 months corrected age, analyzed using prespecified frequentist and Bayesian approaches.

RESULTS:

Of 992 eligible infants, 310 were randomized and 96% had primary outcome assessed. Death or NDI occurred in 69% of infants in the laparotomy group versus 70% with drainage [adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.87-1.14]. A preplanned analysis identified an interaction between preoperative diagnosis and treatment group (P = 0.03). With a preoperative diagnosis of NEC, death or NDI occurred in 69% after laparotomy versus 85% with drainage (aRR 0.81; 95% CI: 0.64-1.04). The Bayesian posterior probability that laparotomy was beneficial (risk difference <0) for a preoperative diagnosis of NEC was 97%. For preoperative diagnosis of IP, death or NDI occurred in 69% after laparotomy versus 63% with drainage (aRR, 1.11; 95% CI: 0.95-1.31); Bayesian probability of benefit with laparotomy = 18%.

CONCLUSIONS:

There was no overall difference in death or NDI rates at 18 to 22 months corrected age between initial laparotomy versus drainage. However, the preoperative diagnosis of NEC or IP modified the impact of initial treatment.

• Authors: Martin L Blakely, Jon E Tyson, Kevin P Lally, Susan R Hintz, Barry Eggleston, David K Stevenson, Gail E Besner, Abhik Das, Robin K Ohls, William E Truog, Leif D Nelin, Brenda B Poindexter, Claudia Pedroza, Michele C Walsh, Barbara J Stoll, Rachel Geller, Kathleen A Kennedy, Reed A Dimmitt, Waldemar A Carlo, C Michael Cotten, Abbot R Laptook, Krisa P Van Meurs, Kara L Calkins, Gregory M Sokol, Pablo J Sanchez, Myra H Wyckoff, Ravi M Patel, Ivan D Frantz 3rd, Seetha Shankaran, Carl T D'Angio, Bradley A Yoder, Edward F Bell, Kristi L Watterberg, Colin A Martin, Carroll M Harmon, Henry Rice, Arlet G Kurkchubasche, Karl Sylvester, James C Y Dunn, Troy A Markel, Diana L Diesen, Amina M Bhatia, Alan Flake, Walter J Chwals, Rebeccah Brown, Kathryn D Bass, Shawn D St Peter, Christina M Shanti, Walter Pegoli Jr, David Skarda, Joel Shilyansky, David G Lemon, Ricardo A Mosquera, Myriam Peralta-Carcelen, Ricki F Goldstein, Betty R Vohr, Isabell B Purdy, Abbey C Hines, Nathalie L Maitre, Roy J Heyne, Sara B DeMauro, Elisabeth C McGowan, Kimberly Yolton, Howard W Kilbride, Girija Natarajan, Kelley Yost, Sarah Winter, Tarah T Colaizy, Matthew M Laughon, Satyanarayana Lakshminrusimha, Rosemary D Higgins, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health, Human Development Neonatal Research Network
• Journal: Annals of surgery (Ann Surg) Vol. 274 Issue 4 Pg. e370-e380 (10 01 2021) ISSN: 1528-1140 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34506326 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Drainage
• Enterocolitis, Necrotizing (mortality, psychology, surgery)
• Feasibility Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Premature, Diseases (mortality, psychology, surgery)
• Intestinal Perforation (mortality, psychology, surgery)
• Laparotomy
• Male
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Survival Rate
• Treatment Outcome