Neonatal gastric perforation: A single center experience.

AIM: To determine the etiology and prognostic factors for neonatal gastric perforation (NGP), a rare but life-threatening disease.

METHODS

Between 1980 and 2011, nine patients underwent surgical intervention for NGP at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. The characteristics and prognosis of the patients were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the nine patients, three (33.3%) were preterm babies and five (55.5%) had associated anomalies, which included diaphragmatic eventration (n = 2), congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, and antral web. Three (33.3%) patients were born before 1990 and three (33.3%) had a birth weight < 2500 g. Pneumoperitoneum was found on preoperative images in six (66.7%) patients, and incidentally in the other three (33.3%) patients. Surgery was performed within 24 h after the onset of symptoms in seven (77.8%) patients. The overall mortality rate was 22.2% (2/9). The time between symptoms and surgical intervention was the only prognostic factor for survival, whereas premature birth and birth weight were not.

CONCLUSION

Early detection and advances in neonatal intensive care may improve the prognosis of NGP.