Spontaneous gastric perforation in premature twins

Abstract

Two pairs of identical and non-identical premature neonates proceeding from twin pregnancies were operated on for spontaneous gastric perforation. The newborns in our case, one girl and one boy two different pregnancies were delivered by emergency cesarean section. Their gestational ages were 30 and 32 weeks, and their birth weight 1400 and 2100 g, respectively. Both of the neonates were being treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit when the perforations were diagnosed. They presented clinically abrupt symptoms of abdominal distension and pneumoperitoneum. The sites of the ruptures were located at the anterior gastric wall near the gastroesophageal junction. The sibling twins were consequently also observed very carefully and fortunately they did not develop any similar clinical symptoms. All four twins were finally discharged from the hospital in good condition.