Neonatal intestinal obstruction

We reviewed 36 cases of neonatal intestinal obstruction admitted to our surgical unit over a 10-year period, 1986-1996, for surgical intervention following the failure of conservative treatment. There were more males than females and the age range was 12 hours-26 days. Imperforate anus was the main cause of the obstruction [27.8%] followed by duodenal atresia [13.9%] and colonic atresia and meconium ileus [11.1% each]. There were 8 deaths following surgery [22% mortality rate], the main causes being aspiration pneumonia, septicaemia and hypothermia