Neonatal gastric perforation: A single center experience

Area of Science:

• Neonatal surgery
• Pediatric gastroenterology

Background:

• Neonatal gastric perforation (NGP) is a rare but critical condition in newborns.
• Understanding its causes and predictors of survival is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causes and prognostic factors of neonatal gastric perforation (NGP).
• To analyze patient characteristics and outcomes following surgical intervention for NGP.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of nine patients who underwent surgery for NGP between 1980 and 2011.
• Evaluation of patient demographics, associated anomalies, clinical presentation, and surgical timing.

Main Results:

• Five patients (55.5%) had associated anomalies; three (33.3%) were preterm.
• The overall mortality rate was 22.2% (2/9).
• Time to surgical intervention was the sole significant prognostic factor for survival.

Conclusions:

• Early surgical intervention is critical for improving survival in NGP.
• Advances in neonatal intensive care and early detection strategies are essential for better NGP prognosis.