Ann Trop Paediatr
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Between 1990 and 1999, 14 neonates with intestinal perforation were treated at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. Median age at presentation was 9 days and median weight 2.65 kg. Five had high anorectal malformation, three Hirschsprung's disease and two ruptured exomphalos with bowel strangulation. ⋯ All the infants had laparotomy, four under local anaesthesia, after resuscitation. Three had simple suture of the perforation, five had resection with primary anastomosis and six had exteriorization colostomy. Overall, eight (59%) died, five with colorectal perforation and three with small bowel perforation.