Necrotizing enterocolitis with recurrent hepatic portal venous gas

Two separate episodes of pneumatosis intestinalis and hepatic portal venous gas were observed in a premature infant with necrotizing enterocolitis. Although HPVG has previously been considered an ominous roentgenographic sign, the infant survived without surgical intervention. As in several cases reported by others, clinical and roentgenographic signs of NEC reappeared when enteric feedings were restarted prior to 10 days of medical therapy.