Percutaneous peritoneal drainage in the management of acute intestinal perforation.

This case series describes the use of percutaneous peritoneal drainage when it is performed as the definitive treatment for acute intestinal perforation. Seven extremely low birth weight neonates who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit of a regional center between March 1987 and October 1992 had acute intestinal perforation. Six neonates were initially treated with percutaneous peritoneal drainage while they were under local anesthesia. Despite reports that percutaneous peritoneal drainage alone can be curative in intestinal perforation, this approach without adjunctive surgery can delay the recovery of bowel integrity.