[Effects of surgical treatment for low birth weight neonates with critical acute abdomen]

To evaluate the effects of the surgical treatment in critical acute abdomen in low birth weight neonates.

The clinical data of 228 neonates with critical acute abdomen who underwent surgical treatment from January 2000 to January 2003, aged (4.1 +/- 0.7) days (1 h-7 days), 141 being preterm infants and 87 being small for date infants, 26 with the birth weight < or = 2000 g and 202 with the birth weight of 2000 - 2500 g, and 83 cases admitted between Jan 2000 and Dec 2002 (first 3-year group) and 145 admitted between Jan 2003 and Jan 2006 (last 3-year group), were analyzed retrospective Follow-up was conducted for 4 approximately 48 months.

Twenty-six pediatric patients died after operation with a hospital mortality rater of 11.4%. The mortality rates of the group of preterm infants, newborns with the birth body weight < or = 2000 g, and the first 3-year group were 14.89% (21/141), 53.84% (14/26), and 18.07% (15/83) respectively, all significantly higher than the full-term small for date infants, newborns with the birth weight of 2000 approximately 2500 g, and the last 3-year group [5.75% (5/87, chi(2) = 4.455, P < 0. 05), 5.94% (12/202, chi(2) = 52.324, P < 0. 01); and 7.59% (11/145, chi(2) = 5.745, P < 0. 05) respectively. Follow-up showed that all surviving infants had good gastrointestinal functions and approximately normal growth.

Death of low birth weight neonates with critical acute abdomen is associated with premature birth and low birth weight. With the development of neonatal surgery, prenatal diagnosis, and perioperational therapy, the curative rate of critical acute abdomen in low birth weight neonates is increasing.