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Cocaine Exposure in a Term Neonate

Necrotizing Enterocolitis as a Complication

Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, California

T. Allen Merrit

Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, California

Suzanne D. Dixon

Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, California

Cocaine use has increased dramatically in the past several years, and multiple medical complications associated with its use have been reported in adults, including bowel infarction and colitis. Maternal use of cocaine during pregnancy has been associated with complications in the fetus and newborn infant, including spontaneous abortions, preterm labor, cerebral infarctions, seizures, renal anomalies, and neurobehavioral and neurophysiologic abnormalities. This paper presents a case of necrotizing enterocolitis at birth in a term newborn exposed to cocaine antenatally. Cultures of the bowel grew two types of Clostridia organisms, Escherichia coli and group B streptococcus. It is suggested that bowel ischemia was secondary to the vasoconstrictive properties of the maternally abused cocaine and that secondary invasion of the bowel by multiple bacteria ensued. This case presents another possible complication to the newborn of maternal cocaine exposure in utero, namely ischemic infarction of the bowel.

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