TOP 71 - Characteristics and predictors of brain injury in preterm infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis

Publication Number: 3803.TOP 71

Medha Goyal, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Dwayne Mascarenhas, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Amr El Shahed, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Vann Chau, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Pradeep Krishnan, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Bonny Jasani, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada

Background: Preterm infants with surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (sNEC) are at high risk for neurodevelopmental impairments. White matter injury to the preterm brain in infants with sNEC has been reported. Still, the extent and determinants of brain injury are yet to be fully delineated.

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors and severity of brain injury on term equivalent MRI in preterm infants with sNEC.

Design/Methods: We have a database of a cohort study of preterm infants ≤30 weeks with sNEC admitted to a single quaternary NICU between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2024. We will extract clinical variables, including baseline characteristics, preoperative severity, and details of surgical intervention, for all infants who underwent term-equivalent MRI brain scans. Short-term clinical, nutritional, and anthropometric outcomes will also be abstracted. MRI brain performed at term-equivalent age will be analyzed for brain injury using Kidokoro scoring by two independent observers blinded to clinical data. Regression analysis will be performed to study the associations between clinical, preoperative, surgical, and outcome parameters and MRI brain injury scores. Data extraction is expected to be completed by December 2025, and analyses will be completed by January 2026.