BACKGROUND: @entity344 ( @entity344 ) in neonates presents important challenges and mortality can be high. This is a report of recent experience with @entity344 in neonates in a developing country. @entity1 AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 16 neonates treated for @entity344 in a 3 year period. RESULTS: There were 9 males and 7 females, aged 0-28 days (median age =7days). Their weights at presentation ranged from 0.9 - 4.7kg (median =2.6). Five @entity1 were premature. Twelve @entity1 presented more than 72 hours after onset of symptoms. Plain abdominal radiographs showed peumoperitoneum in 9 @entity1 . The cause of perforation was @entity4685 enterocolitis 6, intestinal obstruction 6, iatrogenic 3 and spontaneous 1. The site of perforation was ileum in 12 @entity1 , stomach in 4 and colon in 4; 4 @entity1 had involvement of more than one site. All the neonates underwent exploratory laparotomy with primary closure ( n=5) , resection and @entity254 ( n=6), colostomy (n=3), Ileostomy ( n=2), partial gastrectomy (n=2) ,or gastrojejunostomy ( n=1). Two neonates had multiple procedures. Two very sick preterm babies had an initial peritoneal lavage. @entity281 is the commonest postoperative complication occurring in 9 @entity1 . Anaesthesia sepsis and @entity3147 is responsible for the seven @entity204 recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal @entity344 has multiple aetiologies; NEC is the most common cause. Major mortality risk factors include NEC, multiple perforations, delayed presentation and prematurity.

XXXX in neonates: aetiology and risk factors.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'PATIENTS', 'infants'] @entity254 :: ('MESH:C563598', 'Disease') :: ['anastomosis'] @entity344 :: ('MESH:D005767', 'Disease') :: ['Gastrointestinal perforation', 'GIP'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['Surgical site infection'] @entity3147 :: ('MESH:D044342', 'Disease') :: ['malnutrition'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['deaths'] @entity4685 :: ('MESH:D009187', 'Disease') :: ['necrotising']
@entity344 :: (MESH:D005767,Disease) :: ['Gastrointestinal perforation']
