J Korean Soc Neonatol.  2004 May;11(1):77-80.

Spontaneous Ileal Perforation in Very Low Birth Weight Infant without Evidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

• Choi SY
• Choi IJ
• Kim SM
• Jung JH
• Kim GH
• Son CM

Abstract

Ongoing advances in the treatment of very-low-birth-weight infants have confronted us with a growing number of infants susceptible to acquired illnesses of the gastrointestinal tract. Although necrotizing enterocolitis has been regarded as the major cause of gastrointestinal perforation in preterm infants, the incidence of spontaneous perforation occurred in an apparently normal bowel is increasing. The risk factors for spontaneous intestinal perforation include prematurity, twin pregnancies, perinatal asphyxia, prior use of umbilical artery catheter, use of indomethacin and/or steroid, and bacterial or fungal sepsis. We report a case of spontaneous ileal perforation occurred in very low birth weight infant who was successfully treated with emergency operation.

Keyword

Spontaneous Ileal Perforation; Very low birth weight Infant

MeSH Terms

Asphyxia
Catheters
Emergencies
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing*
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Incidence
Indomethacin
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Intestinal Perforation
Pregnancy, Twin
Risk Factors
Sepsis
Umbilical Arteries
Indomethacin