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Pediatric Surgery pp 1–8Cite as

Gastric Perforation

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Abstract

Gastric perforation is a rare event in the newborn period and can be associated with overdistension, gastric intubation, ischemia, or idiopathic causes. Infants with this complication have a high mortality (25–50%). Typically there is a constellation of symptoms which can help identify this condition. These symptoms include fever, sepsis, abdominal distension, hematemesis, pneumoperitoneum, and respiratory failure. Recognition of the symptoms allows preoperative preparation including endotracheal intubation for respiratory failure, volume resuscitation, administration of antibiotics, and possible abdominal decompression. Traditional operative approaches and laparoscopy have been employed to correct this abnormality. Operative principles include control of spillage, debridement of devitalized tissue, and multiple repair techniques. Future investigation includes improvements in the understanding of the underlying causes of idiopathic and spontaneous perforation, improvement in prevention of the perforations of known cause, and advancement of repair techniques and approaches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Medical Center - Plano, Center for Pectus and Chest Wall Anomalies, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Health, Department of Surgery, UTSW, 1935 Medical District Dr, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA

    Adam C. Alder

  2. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Golisano Children’s Hospital Lee Health, 16230 Summerlin Rd, Ste 215, Fort Myers, Florida, 33908, USA

    Robert K. Minkes

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  1. Adam C. Alder
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  2. Robert K. Minkes
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Correspondence to Robert K. Minkes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Our Lady’s Children's Hospital, National Children’s Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland

    Prem Puri

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Alder, A.C., Minkes, R.K. (2017). Gastric Perforation. In: Puri, P. (eds) Pediatric Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_62-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_62-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-38482-0

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Gastric Perforation
    Published:
    26 February 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_62-2

  2. Original

    Gastric Perforation
    Published:
    06 March 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38482-0_62-1

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