Spontaneous gastrointestinal perforation in the neonate

Twenty seven cases of spontaneous gastro-intestinal perforation were treated from 1981 to 1990. Four perforations were in the stomach, 17 in the small bowel and seven in the large bowel. One of them had dual perforation, one in the stomach and another in the duodenum. The exact etiology remained obscure. Various factors observed were maternal obstetric complications, prematurity and perinatal asphyxia. Stress should be laid on early diagnosis by following up 'at risk neonates' thus, giving a better overall survival rate.