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Idiopathic gastric perforation in an asplenic infant

Alex Olsen1, Leigh McGill

  • 1Department of General Surgery, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA. alex.olsen@chw.edu

African Journal of Paediatric Surgery : AJPS
|March 3, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Idiopathic gastric perforation is rare in infants. This case highlights a 6-week-old boy with gastric rupture and asplenia, emphasizing the unknown causes of this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Neonatal Medicine

Background:

  • Idiopathic gastric perforations in neonates are rare and their etiology is unknown.
  • Foregut perforations are the least common intestinal perforations in children.
  • Only 21 cases of idiopathic gastric rupture in non-neonates have been reported.

Observation:

  • A 6-week-old boy presented with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and decreased oral intake.
  • Physical examination revealed a distended, tender abdomen with massive free air on radiography.
  • The patient was diagnosed with idiopathic gastric perforation of the greater curvature.

Findings:

  • The patient had an idiopathic gastric perforation.
  • Incidental finding of asplenia (absence of the spleen) was noted.
  • The etiology of idiopathic gastric perforation remains unknown, with various theories proposed.

Implications:

  • This case adds to the limited literature on idiopathic gastric perforation in infants.
  • Highlights the diverse potential causes of pediatric abdominal foregut perforations.
  • Underscores the importance of considering rare conditions in pediatric surgical emergencies.
Abstract

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