Use of N-Acetylcysteine in Preterm Neonates with Enteral Feeding Intolerance and Intestinal Obstruction: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

Abstract

(1) Background: The use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to relieve meconium obstruction of prematurity in the first days of life has been reported, with NAC reducing the viscosity of luminal contents by cleaving the disulfide bonds of mucoproteins. However, its use in this population should be further explored since it has been associated with hypernatremia and transient increase in transaminases and bilirubin. (2) Methods: In this retrospective study, we included neonates admitted because of enteral feeding intolerance and intestinal obstruction from 2019 to 2021 who received NAC as a rescue therapy before explorative laparotomy. (3) Results: We summarized the clinical presentation of six preterm neonates with enteral feeding intolerance and intestinal obstruction who received NAC as a rescue therapy. Four infants (66.7%) gradually improved without the need for explorative laparotomy, whereas two infants (33.3%) underwent the creation of an ileostomy. No cases of hypernatremia or hepatic derangement associated with NAC therapy were observed. (4) Conclusions: We described the use of NAC treatment by nasogastric tube and/or rectal enemas in preterm infants with enteral feeding intolerance and intestinal obstruction after a multidisciplinary assessment, but the limited sample size did not allow us to obtain definitive conclusions and further research is needed in this field, given the limited evidence about NAC treatment in preterm infants.