Background: Advances in neonatal intensive care have improved the survival of the extremely premature infant. However, survival at less than 25 weeks' gestational age remains tenuous, with intestinal perforation presenting a significant mortality.
Methods: During an 18-month period from 1995 to 1996, nine patients weighing less than 750 g (range, 485 to 740 g; mean, 615 g) presented with intestinal perforation. All patients were treated with peritoneal drainage. Drains were removed after clinical improvement and the cessation of peritoneal drainage.
Results: Seven patients survived the initial drainage procedure (78%). At a mean follow-up of 12 months, the six long-term survivors are all tolerating full enteral feeds, and none developed intestinal strictures or intraabdominal abscess. No patient required subsequent celiotomy. Peritoneal drainage has previously been considered in some centers as temporary therapy in extremely ill neonates deemed unlikely to survive operation. The authors have adopted drainage as the sole treatment in selected patients.
Conclusion: Peritoneal drainage alone may be considered definitive therapy for intestinal perforation in the majority of micropremature infants.