Necrotising enterocolitis in a late-preterm infant with anastomotic dehiscence: a case report from Adjara, Georgia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66636/gmj.v1.i3.a190

Keywords:

Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Gastrointestinal Emergency, Dehiscence, Preterm, Late-Preterm Infant, anastomotic dehiscence, neonatology, case report

Abstract

Background: Despite advances in the field of neonatal medicine, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), a rapidly progressing disease characterised by ischaemia and bowel wall necrosis, remains a gastrointestinal emergency and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among premature infants.

Case presentation: We report a case of a male infant born at 35 weeks and 4 days of gestation via caesarean section, due to a persistent non-reassuring fetal heart rate. The infant developed NEC complicated by terminal ileal perforation and diffuse peritonitis on day 13 of life, requiring an emergency exploratory laparotomy and stoma formation. On day 41, the postoperative course was further complicated by anastomotic dehiscence and recurrent pneumoperitoneum, necessitating a repeat surgical intervention with resection and secondary loop stoma creation. The infant made a full recovery and was discharged after stoma maturation. Normal growth parameters were documented at the two-month follow-up.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering NEC in the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal complications in late-preterm infants, as early recognition and timely surgical intervention are crucial in reducing morbidity and improving clinical outcomes. This report also documents NEC for the first time in the region of Adjara, Georgia, where regional case-level reporting is currently unavailable, emphasising the need for regional clinical awareness.

Keywords: necrotising enterocolitis; gastrointestinal emergency; anastomotic dehiscence; late-preterm infant; neonatology; case report

References

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Published

08/22/2026

How to Cite

Ramachandran, S., Anandamohan, U., Dalyan, Y., & Gorgadze, N. (2026). Necrotising enterocolitis in a late-preterm infant with anastomotic dehiscence: a case report from Adjara, Georgia. Georgian Medical Journal, 1(3). https://doi.org/10.66636/gmj.v1.i3.a190

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 3 (2026): Surgical Innovation, Paediatrics, and Environmental Health

Section

Case Reports

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Copyright (c) 2026 Sumithra Ramachandran, Uthayakumar Anandamohan, Yaren Dalyan, Nato Gorgadze

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