One hundred and seven consecutive cases of neonates receiving surgical treatment at the American University of Beirut Medical Center during the first month of life, are presented. The period covered is from January 1981 to December 1983. Twenty-eight patients were premature and 79 were full-term. The hospital mortality rate in the former was 32% and in the latter 7.6%. The factors affecting survival in this category of neonates are discussed.

Keywords: mortality rate, neonatal surgery, neonates, prematurity