Idiopathic gastrointestinal perforation in premature twins

Three premature twins ranging in age from 2 to 4 days were managed for idiopathic gastrointestinal perforation from July 1989 till December 1990. all were boys, they were born prematurely and were treated in a neonatal intensive care unit when perforation were diagnosed. The sites of perforations were in each twin, and the occurrence of perforation in one usually preceded the other. 3 out of 6 died [50%] in the post operative period. This observation in twins should alert us to the possibility of occurrence of the perforation in the 2 nd when it occurs in the first