Spontaneous gastric perforation is an important but rare cause of gastrointestinal perforation in neonates. Just over 200 cases have been reported in the literatures. In spite of recent surgical advances in its managements, mortality rate has been reported as high as 25~50%. Because of physiologic differences, immature immune mechanisms, variations in gastrointestinal flora and poor localization of perforation, a neonate with gastric perforation is at high risk. The pathogenesis is greatly debated. Five patients with spontaneous neonatal gastric perforation who were operated upon at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital from 1980 to 1993 were reviewed. Four patients were male and one female. The first indication of perforation was 1 day to 6 days of life. All of 5 perforations were located along the greater curvature of the stomach. The size of perforation ranged from 2 cm to 10 cm. Debridement and primary closure were performed in all patients. The operative mortality was 40%(2 of 5). The cause of perforation was not identified in all cases. Prematurity and necrotizing enterocolitis, synchronous or metachrotlous, were thought to be crucial prognostic factors. Earlier recognition and surgical intervention are necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Since 1988, we have performed esophageal replacement with the reversed gastric tube on four esophageal atresia patients. Three patients had long-gap esophageal atresias and one patient had recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula that was previously operated on three times. One combined imperforate anus.

The youngest patient was 6-month-old and the oldest, 34-month-old at the time of procedure. The technique of gastric tube construction is described. There have been both major and minor complications. Although two patients had shown distal tube strictures as late complications, those were solved with tuboplasties on 29 months and 48 months, postoperatively.

Growth and development have been acceptable in all four patients, although most remain in the lower percentiles for growth and height, a condition that usually predates the esophageal substitution.

Conclusively, reversed gastric tube interposition has proved very satisfactory for long-gap esophageal atresia that cannot be anastomosed primarily even by spiral myotomy and esophageal atresia with recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula having destroyed esophagus due to previous operation.

To study the clinical profiles and outcome of surgery in infants with esophageal atresia, we reviewed 96 esophageal atresia cases who were treated from April, 1978 to June, 1995. There were 51 male and 45 female infants, a ratio of 1.1:1. The low birth weight(<2500g) patients were 32%. Clinical findings at the time of diagnosis inculded drooling in 57%, choking in 50%, cyanosis in 38%, respiratory distress in 27% and swallowing difficulty in 20%. Gross classification included 6 cases of type A esophageal atresia(6%), 79 cases of type C(82%). 3 cases of type E (3%) and 8 cases of type F(8%). Associated anomalies occurred in 34 infants(35%). Among them, cardiac anomalies were most common(60%). A primary repair of the defect was carried out in 76 patients with type A or C. A staged operation comprising a repair or gastric tube interposition after gastrostomy was performed in 8 patients. In all 3 infants with H-type, a division of fistula was performed. Esophageal resection and anastomosis was done in 8 infants with esophageal stenosis. In one infant, a gastrostomy was performed and he expired before staged operation. Anastomotic complications incuded leakage in 16 cases(l7%), stricture in 37 cases(39%) and recurrent tracheoesopohageal fistula in 3 cases(3%). The mortality rate was 14% and the leading cause of death was peumonia. The overall survival rate was 86%, and according to Waterston cirteria, the survival rates were 93%, 85% and 58% in class A, Band C, respectively. 75 patients were followed up with median follow up 6.4 years. Among them, 93% were uneventful and 7% had frequent pneumonia.