Intestinal perforation in preterm infant as an unusual initial presentation of Hirschsprung's disease

AbstractIntestinal perforations in preterm infants are often associated with necrotizing enterocolitis or spontaneous ileal perforation. Isolated colonic perforation is a rare presentation of Hirschsprung's disease (HD), especially in premature infants. We report a case of descending colon perforation with pneumoperitoneum at 3 days of life in a 34 week infant which was initially attributed to NEC. This case demonstrates that an isolated colonic perforation, even in the descending colon and preterm infant, can be attributed to Hirschsprung's disease