Idiopathic gastric perforation in neonates: About a case

Spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation is rare. We report the case of a newborn without any abnormality identified at delivery and whose mother had problem-free pregnancy. On the third day of life, he had a sudden onset of severe abdominal distension followed by bilious vomiting. Abdominal X-rays without treatment showed massive pneumoperitoneum and laparotomy showed a perforation at the level of the anterior gastric wall closed in a single layer closure. Postoperative course was uneventful. Spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation usually has a favorable outcome. Hence the importance of early diagnosis and patient management.