DOI: 10.21276/sasjs.2017.3.10.1

Pages: 268-270

Focal intestinal perforation (FIP) in neonates presents important challenges and mortality can be high. Neonatal pneumoperitoneum is a surgical emergency indicative of gastrointestinal perforation that requires immediate treatment to prevent death. In preterm infants with very low birth weight (VLBW) <1500 g the most important acquired intestinal diseases are necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and focal intestinal perforation (FIP). FIP is a separate clinical entity from necrotizing enterocolitis, the most severe gastrointestinal complication of preterm infants. This differentiation is important because of management. Despite improvements in anesthesia and neonatal intensive care, mortality has remained high, especially in the preterm. We report a case of an extremely low birth weight neonate with a massive pneumoperitoneum and a timely diagnosis and management resulted in favorable outcome.