Outcome of postoperative treatment in newborns with congenital anomalies of alimentary system and abdominal wall - 14 years of experience

From 1991-2004, 4452 newborns were admitted in our NICU. Surgica procedures were performed for abdominal wall and alimentary system anomalies in 283 (6, 4%). Duration of their postoperative treatment was 8916 days (mean duration was 31, 5 days, 35 days for survivors, 23 days for deceased). 214 (78%) newborns were healed or recovered and 59 (22%) died. This is the largest group of patients with congenital anomalies of alimentary system and abdominal wall treated in the single hopital in Croatia. These results of short-term survival (to discharge from hospital) are encouraging, and we have followed improvement of survival thought these years. The investigations on prenatal diagnosis of anomalies and the impact of place of birth (level of neonatal care) on final outcomes in these patients are in process.