Spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation.

Sixteen cases of spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation seen between January 1969 and March 1979 are reported. There were 13 surgically treated patients and three autopsy cases. This study provides information relative to the incidence among black populations, an incidence 1 per 2,900 live births. The entity is at least four times more common in males than females. All perforations occurred within the first week of life (average 72 hr). All perforations were on the greater curvature of the fundus. The operative mortality of this series is 7.5% (1 of 13) with an overall mortality of 25% (4 of 16). A gastrostomy was routinely done. No peritoneal cavity drainage or segmental gastric resection was necessary.