Spontaneous gastric perforation in neonates: case series and review of literature.

Spontaneous gastric perforation is a rare cause of pneumoperitoneum in neonates. It is an acute emergency in
neonates requiring urgent laparotomy and repair of the perforation. Many theories have been discussed with respect
to its aetiology but none has clearly defined the cause. This paper attempts to give justification for the prematurity
theory which is associated with poorly developed gastric musculature. We report two preterm neonates who
presented with progressively distending abdomen from massive pneumoperitoneum. Both of them had aparotomy with repair of the gastric perforation. Spontaneous gastric perforation is associated with high mortality in preterm
neonates.