Neonatal surgery in Harare Hospital

The records of newborn babies with surgical conditions seen at Harare Hospital in 1988 were reviewed. Survival rates for the commonest major conditions, oesophageal atresia with tracheo-oesophageal fistula, small bowel atresia and gastroschisis, were respectively 20 percent, 50 percent and 0 percent. Avoidable or unsatisfactory factors were encountered during the hospital course of 54 percent of all babies and 76 percent of those who died. Suggestions are made for improving the outcome for babies with neonatal surgical conditions.