Pattern and outcome of neonatal gastrointestinal surgical emergencies: A prospective analysis.

Objectives: This study is aimed at determing the pattern and treatment outcome of neonatal gastrointestinal surgical emergencies. Study Design: Prospective Descriptive study. Setting: DHQ Teaching Hospital Sahiwal. Period: January 2018 to December 2019. Material & Methods: All neonates (<28 days old) who underwent surgery for acute gastrointestinal emergency during the study period were included. Newborns more than 28 days and diseases such as esophageal atresia, esophageal atresia with trachea-esophageal fistula, diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele,  gastroschisis and infantile hypertophic pyloric stenosis were not included in the study. Results: A total of 104 cases of neonatal gastrointestinal surgical emergency were included in the study. The most common cause was anorectal malformation 37(35.57%), followed by intestinal atresia 26(25.0%), Hirschsprung disease 13(12.50%), necrotizing enterocolitis 9(8.65%), intestinal malrotation 8(7.69%), meconium ileus 7(6.73%) and others 4(3.84%). Males were 59(56.73%), females 45(43.26%) and male to female ratio 1.3:1. Mean weight was 2.62kg, ranging from 1.5 to 4.4kg. Post-operative complications were septicemia 26(25.0%), wound infection 17(16.34%), respiratory problems 19(18.26%).  Mortality rate in necrotizing enterocolitis was 55.55%, meconium ileus 42.85% and intestinal atresia 38.46%. Mortality rate in premature neonates was 48.0% and mature 12.65%. Overall mortality rate was 21.15%. Conclusions: Anorectal malformation is the commonest cause of neonatal gastrointestinal surgical emergency. Necrotizing enterocolitis, intestinal atresia and meconium ileus are the neonatal surgical diseases with high mortality rate. Surgical outcome depends on the complexity of the disease. Sepsis, late presentation, prematurity and low birth weight are significant contributory factors for high morbidity and mortality.