Gastric ulcers in the premature newborn: Report of two cases

The incidence of gastric ulcer is noted. Two cases of premature newborn infants having perforated gastric ulcers are reported, one with a perforation and a congenital partial obstruction of the ileocecal valve, the other with two perforations, the second occurring between operation and death. Both mothers were free from syphilis, although one was a chronic cardionephritic. The births were without trauma, one spontaneous, the other cesarean. One baby had delayed respiration. Neither child had any apparent infection. No stool from either showed melena. One child never vomited, the other's vomitus contained no blood. One ulcer was definitely hemorrhagic but the primary cause of the gastric lesions was not determined.