Pharyngeal and esophageal perforations in newborn infants

In three newborn infants pharyngeal or esophageal perforations were due to injury caused by the obstetrician's finger in the infant's mouth to help deliver the head, by orogastric feeding tube, or by endotracheal tube. They all had in common respiratory distress and right-sided pneumothorax. The patients were treated medically with antibiotics, antifungal therapy and total parenteral nutrition. All perforations healed without surgical repair.