Peri-Operative Blood Lactate Concentrations in Pre-Term Babies with Necrotising Enterocolitis

Abstract

This study suggests that elevation of L in the pre-operative period carries a poor prognosis in babies with NEC. As L was not significantly different between babies who had necrotic bowel and those who had a healthy bowel, we postulate that it reflects inadequate global tissue oxygen delivery rather than local disease process. Pre-operative optimisation of oxygen delivery has been shown to reduce mortality in high-risk adult surgical patients. Babies with NEC may also benefit from further peri-operative resuscitation.