Background: Traumatic subdiaphramatic perforation of esophagus or stomach in neonates represents a rare clinical complication following the insertion of a gastric tube and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the angle of the gastric tube depicted on a plain radiograph may serve as a diagnostic tool to predict subdiaphragmatic traumatic (or iatrogenic) perforation.
Patients And Methods: Thoraco-abdominal radiographs of 128 preterm and term neonates without perforation and 15 neonates with perforation of the esophagogastric junction or the stomach were retrospectively analysed.