Abdo pain + vomiting Flashcards
Important features to ascertain on history for child presenting with abdo pain/vomiting?
- Age of child
- Location, onset, progression
- Vomit - bilious vs. non-bilious, blood/coffee grounds
- Associated features - infective, rash, resp symptoms, UTI, DKA features, migraine features, inguinoscrotal
- Context - travel, sick contacts
- PMHx - diabetes, hernia, migraine, surgery
- FHx - pyloric stenosis (maternal esp.), diabetes
- Adolescence - menstrual and sexual history - STI, ectopic pregnancy
Important features on examination of child presenting with abdo pain/vomiting?
- General - colour, posturing, well vs. unwell, rash, temp & vitals
- Abdo - masses (pyloric mass, faeces, distention), peritonitis, visible peristalsis
- Fluid assessment
- Inguinoscrotal - scrotal swelling, hernia
What are the DDx for non-bilious vomit?
Most common causes are not surgical
Infection - sepsis most common cause of vomiting in children. UTI, meningitis, gastro
Reflux, overfeeding
Pyloric stenosis
What are the DDx for bilious vomit?
Malrotation with volvulus until proven otherwise (grassy green)
What Ix to consider in child presenting with abdo pain/vomiting?
Urine - urinanalysis, MCS, ketones, glucose, pregnancy
Blood tests - B-hCG, FBE, U&Es, LFTs, lipase, acid-base/blood gas
Imaging - CXR - pneumonia, erect AXR - obstruction (not helpful in constipation or malrotation), U/S (pyloric stenosis, intersussception, malrotation)
What are the clinical features of pyloric stenosis?
Vomiting after soon after feeding in infants (peak age 2-6 weeks of age but rarely commencing >12 weeks)
Sudden onset, progressively more forceful in nature (projectile). Copious volume, milky and sometimes blood/coffee grounds (2o gastritis)
Non-bilious
Child appears well, hungry and wants to feed again after vomiting
Eventually leads to weight loss/poor weight gain and dehydration
Examination - signs of dehydration, abnormal growth chart, palpable pyloric mass/olive (RUQ), visible peristaltic waves, rarely jaundice
What are risk factors for pyloric stenosis?
Male (5:1)
Caucasian
FHx - esp. if maternal hx
First born
Diagnosis of pyloric stenosis?
Palpable pyloric mass (olive) in RUQ sufficient for clinical diagnosis and treatment/referral
If unsure/no palpable mass - U/S to confirm (95% sensitive, visualise thickened circular muscle of pylorus)
How should pyloric stenosis be Ix?
Bloods - FBE (exclude infection, anaemia), U&Es (hydration, hypochloraemia, hypokalaemia), LFTs (bilirubin)
Acid-base/ABG - metabolic alkalosis
Urinanalysis - paradoxical urine acidosis (compensatory to preserve Na)
What are the DDx for pyloric stenosis?
Cow’s milk protein intolerance - would expect blood in stools (colitis), hx cow’s milk consumption, cow’s milk protein/soy protein formula or high maternal consumption if BF
Obstruction
Reflux
Liver disease - i.e. biliary atresia
What is the Rx for pyloric stenosis?
- Early surgical referral
- Management of dehydration & electrolyte imbalance BEFORE surgery
- NS + dextrose and add KCl once voiding if required
- NBM +/- NGT on free drainage if continue to vomit - Monitor - U&Es, acid-base (4-6 hourly) and adjust fluids as needed
What is intussusception?
Invagination/telescoping of the small bowel on it’s self
Usually in the distal ileum
Due to hyperplasia of gut lymphoid tissue
What are risk factors/associated factors of intussusception?
Male Rotavirus vaccine (peyer's patch tissue enlargement) Enteric infection - viral or bacterial Polyps** Meckel's diverticulum* HSP
What are the clinical features of intussusception?
Peak age 5 -7 months, but consider in child 3 months - 2 years
Sudden onset of vomiting
Non-bilious vomit, but can become bilious as obstruction progresses - EARLY sign
A FEW lose stools initially, constipation later (LATE sign) - helps differentiate b/w gastro
During episodes of vomiting child is pale, floppy and hikes up legs
Appears anxious and pale
Red current jelly stools - LATE sign
Abdominal distention - LATE sign
Abdo pain - intermittent/colicky initially, can become constant, variable severity
Palpable sausage-shaped abdominal mass - typically RUQ but can be LUQ
~30% have hx of recent preceding URTI/flu-like symptoms
How do you diagnose intussusception?
Clinical diagnosis
Can confirm with U/S if unsure - highly sensitive & specific
What Ix can be considered for intussusception?
U/S - very good
AXR - not good, can appear normal
FBE - infection
U&Es - fluid status
What is the Rx of intussusception?
- Fluid resuscitation and warming first
- Aim to reduce obstruction:
1st = gas enema
2nd = barium contrast enema
3rd = surgical reduction
Surgical reduction if gas enema fails or signs of necrosis/peritonitis
What are the risk factors for inguinal hernia?
Prematurity - bilateral
Male
Fhx - high familial incidence
What is the most common type of inguinal hernia?
Indirect
Also most common cause of complications in inguinal hernia
What age group most likely associated with strangulated inguinal hernia?
What is the peak age of presentation for inguinal hernia?
<6 months for strangulation
Boys 3 months
More even spread across ages in females
In boys, which is the most common side affected by inguinal hernia & why?
The right side as the right testes descends later
What are the complication of strangulated/incarcerated inguinal hernia?
Obstruction
Ischaemia/infarction
Testicular ischaemia and atrophy
What is the typical presentation of strangulated inguinal hernia?
Boy aged 3 months
Hx of intermittent non-painful groin bulge associated with irritability (i.e. noticed during nappy changes)
When strangulated - non-reducible, hard/tense, painful lump, not irreducible and no cough or cry impulse
Acute groin swelling
May have signs of peritonism if ischaemia
What is the treatment of inguinal hernia?
Reduce hernia (usually surgeon can) + analgesia and surgical management within 48 hours
What is Hirschsprung disease and what age does it present?
Congenital abnormality of the innervation of the colon
Presents in the first few days of life usually - 80% within 6 weeks