Donor human milk impact on prevalence and features of necrotizing enterocolitis in hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Abstract

Objectives and methods To evaluate if prevalence and features of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) changed after opening a donor human milk bank (DHMB) in the hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. A retrospective study of 117 patients’ data was performed. Inclusion criteria: 1) gestational age (GA) ≤32 weeks 2) diagnosis of NEC 3) no congenital anomalies of the digestive tract. Patients were divided into two groups - control group (n=73) – treated for NEC before DHM was available (2010 – 2016 yrs.), intervention group (n=44) – after DHM became available (2017-2020 yrs.). Groups were compared considering stages and outcomes of disease, surgical needs, duration of parenteral feeding, and need of erythrocyte mass transfusions. NEC stages varied among groups, however, there was no significant difference. [...]. Conclusions Number of NEC associated deaths decreased significantly once DHM became available. There was no significant difference in prevalence of NEC, distribution of NEC stages, number of surgical procedures, erythrocyte mass transfusions, and duration of parenteral feeding among the groups.