Neonatal gastric perforation in a preterm infant: A case report from northern Uganda

Abstract

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Spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation is a rare but life-threatening entity, with only a few hundred cases described in the literature. No cases have been documented in Uganda. The mortality rate from neonatal perforations is high, but with early diagnosis and surgical treatment, survival rates can be improved even in low-resource settings. This pathology should be part of the initial differential diagnosis whenever a neonate, especially if preterm, presents with abdominal pain and distention in the relevant clinical setting. We report a case of a preterm neonate who presented on the third day of life with abdominal distention, fever, and refusal to breastfeed. On examination, she was found to have features of a visceral perforation. This was corroborated by findings of pneumoperitoneum on x-ray and ultrasonography. She underwent gastrorrhaphy and had a stable postoperative recovery. She was discharged on postoperative day 12 in good condition.