〈Cases Reports〉Recurrent focal intestinal perforation in extremely-low-birth-weight infant

publisher[Abstract] In recent years, the incidence of focal intestinal perforation (FIP) has been increasing, as the survival rate of extremely-low-birth-weight(ELBW) infants has been rising. We present a case of an ELBW infant who suffered three recurrences of FIP in a very short period of time. The patient was a female infant who was born at 24 weeks and 2 days of gestation, with a birth weight of 579 g. On her 22^nd day of life, abdominal X-rays revealed free air, which suggested intestinal perforation, and an intraperitoneal drainage tube was placed. Intraperitoneal lavage was performed on day 28 of life,and the drained fluid was turbid with feces, suggesting a recurrence of perforation. On day 30 of life, laparotomy revealed a perforation of approximately 1cm in diameter located at 6 cm from the ileocecum on the oral side. The X-ray taken on day 34 again revealed free air, and, through another laparotomy, a new perforation was found at about 15 cm from the stoma on the oral side. This case provides suggestions that may shed light on our approach to determine the pathogenesis of FIP, especially since no other case of FIP recurring three times has ever been reported