Necrotizing enterocolitis after recurrent supraventricular tachycardia

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal (GI) emergency that primarily affects premature infants. In the last decade, there have been significant advances to our understanding of neonatal NEC. The exact etiology of NEC remains unclear, but it is widely considered a multifactorial disease; prematurity, enteral feeding, intestinal hypoxia-ischemia, and bacterial colonization are considered major risk factors. We report a case of a 35 week preterm infant with recurrent episodes of supraventricular tachycardia who developed NEC in the second week of life. This case underscores the importance of being appropriately cautious in the feeding of these high-risk premature infants.