[The acute abdomen in the neonatal period]

Over a period of 22 years 91 cases of perforation or rupture of the intestinal tract were observed. Necrotising enterocolitis was most frequent (45%) followed by ruptures of congenital atresias of the intestinal tract (32%). In the first 11 years the mortality rate was 50%, in the following second period 25%. Infant birth weight registered in the first period was over 3000 g in 26% of the babies, in the second period in 11.5%. Whereas no child weighing less then 1000 g was admitted to hospital in the first period, 14% of those admitted in the second period did.