Recognizing and referring neonatal surgical emergencies.

Ultimate survival of the neonate with a surgical emergency depends upon early recognition by the family physician, who may refer the infant to a pediatric surgical center. The family physician must prevent infectious and metabolic insults to the critically ill neonate while preparing him for safe and rapid transport to a specialty institution. In many cases, the final outcome is as often determined by the initial care received at the referring hospital and during transport as it is by the surgical procedures and postoperative management.