Spontaneous rupture of the stomach in preschool age children: a report of two cases

Abstract

The cases of two preschool-age children who suffered spontaneous gastric ruptures are reported herein. The first was a 2-year-old girl with tetralogy of Fallot, transferred to our hospital due to shock. A laparotomy was performed under the diagnosis of gastrointestinal perforation, and two perforations of the posterior wall of the gastric fundus were found. The second case, a 4-year-old girl who had previously experienced an episode of gastric dilatation, was admitted to our department with abdominal distention and vomiting. An abdominal X-ray film revealed a pneumoperitoneum, and an emergency laparotomy was performed, confirming a round rupture in the posterior wall of the stomach. Both patients had a satisfactory postoperative course.