A Case of Neonatal Duodenal Perforation Treated by Omentum Plugging

Abstract

[Case report] A two-day-old girl who had no problems during birth was transferred to our hospital because of abdominal distension and respiration disorder. At the time of hospitalization, abdominal X-ray examination showed abdominal free air, and emergency surgery was performed for a gastro-intestinal perforation. Dirty ascites in the entire peritoneal cavity and perforation in the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb were found. After abdominal irrigation, the duodenal perforation was closed by omentum plugging. Famotidine was administered immediately after surgery and continued for 10 days. Milk feeding was started five days after surgery and she was discharged two weeks after surgery. [Discussion] Neonatal duodenal perforation is a rare disease. The most common surgical procedure used is oversewing the perforation and covering it with omentum, and there are no case reports of neonatal duodenal perforation treated by omentum plugging. In adult cases, omentum plugging is often preferred because it is safe and requires a small number of sutures. Moreover, wound healing promotion by omentum plugging is expected. Omentum plugging for duodenal perforation appears to be suitable for neonates.