Primary anastomosis or ostomy in necrotizing enterocolitis?

In neonates requiring operation for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the complications due to enterostomy (ES) and the need for another operation to restore continuity have prompted several surgeons to employ primary anastomosis (PA) after resection as the operative strategy of choice. Our objective was to compare primary anastomosis to stoma formation in this population using systematic review and meta-analysis. Publications describing both interventions were identified by searching multiple databases.