For Patients/Families

Ileal perforation
Puncture or hole in the last part of the small bowel (ileum). This usually occurs spontaneously in extremely premature babies. Its cause is unknown. Often an ileal perforation requires surgery to form an ileostomy and to repair the hole in the bowel. Some neonatal intensive care units have reported success simply by putting a piece of drainage tubing into the abdomen to drain out the infection and let the perforation seal on its own.