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 un-derwent 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. Pneumo-peritoneum 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 neo-natal intensive care may improve the prognosis of NGP.