The contribution of morphine sulfate to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants: a matched casecontrol study

Özet

The aim of the study was to determine whether morphine sulfate administrationis associated with an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) inpreterm infants supported by mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure.The matched case-control retrospective study was carried out at the NeonatalIntensive Care Unit (NICU) of the University Clinical Center Sarajevo, on 122preterm infants classified into total NEC group and control group. The totalNEC group was further divided into medical NEC and surgical NEC subgroups.The association between the use and duration of morphine sulfate infusionand the development of NEC was evaluated in both unadjusted and adjustedanalysis. Preterm infants who developed NEC were on mechanical ventilationmore frequently compared to premature infants without signs of NEC (MannWhitney U test; p=0.0031). A positive correlation between the frequency ofreceiving morphine sulfate and the development of NEC was observed (Chisquare test of independence; p=0.0001). The risk of NEC in preterm infantswas increased by the use of morphine sulfate. Validation of this observation inother populations is warranted.