Surgical experience in necrotising enterocolitis: a report of nineteen cases.

The results of operative intervention in 19 neonates with necrotising enterocolitis are reported. There were four deaths (21%) in the series. Intestinal perforation was the indication for surgery in 10 cases (55%), three of which did not survive. Timing of operative intervention can be optimised only by close liaison between experienced physicians and surgeons in order to avoid intestinal perforation.