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Neonatal gastric perforations in very low birth weight infants: a single center experience and review of the literature

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Abstract

Purpose

Gastric perforation is a rare condition with high mortality rates in preterm infants. The aim of this retrospective study was to define the risk factors and prognosis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with gastric perforations.

Methods

VLBW infants with a diagnosis of gastric perforation between 2012 and 2016 were included. The data including birth weight, gestational age, gender, risk factors, time and location of the perforation and prognosis were recorded.

Results

A total of eight infants were identified. The median gestational age and birth weight of the infants were 26 weeks and 860 g, respectively. Five were male and 6 (75%) had a diagnosis of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), early sepsis, persistent hypotension, and drug administration (paracetamol, ibuprofen). The main clinical finding was abdominal distension and pneumoperitoneum was detected in all infants. The median diagnosis was 6 days of life. The median perforation size was 2.5 cm and curvature major and anterior wall were the most common locations. The mortality rate was 62.5%.

Conclusion

Male gender, chorioamnionitis, early sepsis, asphyxia, hemodynamic PDA, persistent hypotension, ibuprofen and paracetamol usage, and orogastric catheter administration were the main risk factors for gastric perforations in VLBW infants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Turgut Ozal Caddesi No:1 34303 Altınsehir, Kucukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey

    Aslan Babayigit, Seyithan Ozaydın, Merih Cetinkaya & Serdar Sander

  2. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Turgut Ozal Caddesi No:1 34303 Altınsehir, Kucukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey

    Seyithan Ozaydın & Serdar Sander

Authors
  1. Aslan Babayigit
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  2. Seyithan Ozaydın
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  3. Merih Cetinkaya
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  4. Serdar Sander
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Correspondence to Merih Cetinkaya.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this retrospective study formal consent is not required.

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Babayigit, A., Ozaydın, S., Cetinkaya, M. et al. Neonatal gastric perforations in very low birth weight infants: a single center experience and review of the literature. Pediatr Surg Int 34, 79–84 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-017-4205-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-017-4205-1

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