Spontaneous perforation of the stomach in the neonate.

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.