All issues > Volume 18(11); 1975

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1975;18(11):829-834. Published online November 30, 1975.

Neonatal Peritonitis

Seong Soo Kim¹, Bong Jeong Jun¹, Chong Young Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital, Busan, Korea

Abstract

A series of 12 cases of neonatal peritonitis is presented. These cases had been admitted to Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital at Busan from June 1972 to May 1975. The 9 cases were found among 495 newborn patients who were born outside of this hospital and transfered here and 3 cases among 4, 568 newborns delivered in this hospital. There were 9 male and 3 female (sex ratio 3 : 1). The causes of neonatal peritonitis in this series are primary peritonitis (1), meconium peritonitis(2), rupture of gastroschisis(2), perforation due to intestinal malrotation, stenosis and atresia(6), and necrotizing enterocolititis(l). The most common presenting symptoms and signs were abdominal distention(83%)i emesis. (5%), respiratory distress(41.7%), obstipation(41.1%) and hypothermia(41.1%). The diagnosis was established by clinical manifestations, reontogenograms of abdomen and. operative findings. Ga strointestinal decompression with nasogastric tube, fluid and electrolyte balance, main- tenance of normal temperature and antibiotic therapy should be provided prior to diagnostic procedures or operations. All cases were operated. The survival rate was 58.3 percent. Delay of diagnosis may be responsible for the high mortality rate.

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