One hundred and fifty-six children with gastrointestinal perforations (GIP) are presented in this study. Of these 24% were neonates, 20% were infants and 56% were in the 1-14 age group. While 33% of the perforations were located in the ileum, 70% of the perforations were in the jejunum, ileum and colon. The leading etiologic factors were, in newborns, obstructive lesions, in infants necrotizing enterocolitis and in the 1-14 age group, trauma. Resection and anastomosis, primary suturing and colostomy were carried out in about 85% of the children by way of surgical treatment. The overall mortality is 43%. It is high in the first two groups (74% and 71%) and low in the last one (20%).

Keywords: etiology, gastrointestinal perforation, localization therapy