We reviewed 36 cases of neonatal intestinal obstruction admitted to our surgical unit over a 10-year period, 1986-1996, for surgical intervention following the failure of conservative treatment. There were more males than females and the age range was 12 hours-26 days. Imperforate anus was the main cause of the obstruction (27.8%) followed by duodenal atresia (13.9%) and colonic atresia and meconium ileus (11.1% each). There were 8 deaths following surgery (22% mortality rate), the main causes being aspiration pneumonia, septicaemia and hypothermia.