Clinical Study of Gastrointestinal perforation in the Newborn

ABSTRACT

A clinical study was made on 10 neonates with gastrointestinal perforation admitted to the department of pediatrics and surgery of Severance hospital from January, 1965, through Jane, 1978. The following results were obtained; 1) Males predominate (7M : 3F). 2) 7 cases of perforations occur in the first 2 days of life. 3) The most common site of perforations is stomach (3 cases) and terminal lieum (3 cases). The lesion showes inflammation, submucosal hemorrhage, atresia and muscular defect. 4) The clinical picture is abdominal distension developing repidly, cyanosis, vomiting, poor sucking, etc. 5) Abdominal X-rays are diagnostic, Massive pneumoperitoneum is visible in 5 cases. 6) Seven patients in 9 operated neonates died.