title: Spontaneous perforation of the stomach in the neonate.
abstract: Three full-term female neonates developed gastric perforation during their first week of life. All three experienced severe postnatal asphyxia and improved following resuscitation. A linear perforation located in the prepyloric area was found in these patients. Direct closure was successfully performed in all three neonates. Asphyxia seems to be a major predisposing factor in neonatal gastric perforations. Focal gastric ischaemia and acid peptic activity may play part in the pathogenesis in these cases.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques