Can We Predict 30-day Mortality After Neonatal Surgery for Major Gastrointestinal Conditions? A Prospective Cohort Study

Advances in neonatal care have led to a steady decrease in neonatal surgical mortality over the last five decades. However, the incidence of this mortality is still high in low- and middle-income countries, with rates exceeding 40% in some African countries [1,2]. Despite considerable focus on improving neonatal care and survival, there are very few papers on the risk factors for postoperative mortality in neonates undergoing major gastrointestinal (GI) surgery. Even in published research, findings are controversial, and the identified risk factors have not gained universal acceptance [3–5].