Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the study population
No (%)
Patients352 (100)
Male195 (55.4)
Gestation <37 weeks275 (78.1)
Birth weight <1500 g112 (32)
Small for age11 (3.1)
Birth asphyxia4 (1.1)
Mechanical ventilation76 (21.6)
Pulmonary interstitial emphysema5 (1.4)
Catecholamine treatment35 (10.0)
Central venous access82 (23.3)
    Umbilical venous catheter5 (1.4)
Major congenital malformations
    Gastrointestinal12* (3.3)
        Gastrochisis4 (1.1)
        Omphalocele4 (1.1)
        Other4 (1.1)
    Cardiac21 (6.0)
Early-onset septicaemia (<day 3 of life)46 (13.1)
Late-onset septicaemia (⩾day 3 of life)17 (4.8)
NEC (any stage)34† (10)
    Necrotic bowel other than NEC3‡ (0.9)

  • *All neonates underwent surgery during the study period.

  • †Nine patients had >1 necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) episode.

  • ‡Volvulus, focal intestinal perforation (n = 2).