Transfusion-Associated Necrotizing Enterocolitis Evidence and Uncertainty

Transfusion-associated necrotizing enterocolitis (TANEC) has been described as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) that arises within 48 hours of a blood transfusion. It has been shown to be associated with 25% to 35% of NEC cases in recent studies. Evidence related to TANEC is limited to observational, retrospective studies. Infants who develop TANEC tend to be smaller, born preterm, more severely ill, and develop NEC after 30 days of age. Evidence in 2 studies support holding feedings during transfusion to protect the preterm gut from the cascade of events that lead to NEC, but higher quality research, including prospective randomized controlled trials, is needed to evaluate the effect of feeding on TANEC.