Paediatric Surgery Flashcards
When is the peak incidence of appendicitis?
10-20 years old
What is classic abdo pain presentation in appendicitis?
Central abdominal pain which moves to the right iliac fossa
What are some clinical signs of appendicitis seen on abdominal examination?
Tenderness and guarding in right iliac fossa (especially McBurney’s point), rovsings sign
What are some signs suggestive of peritonitis from ruptured appendix on abdominal examination?
Percussion tenderness, rebound tenderness
What are some key differential diagnoses for appendicitis particularly in paediatric cases?
Ectopic pregnancy, meckels diverticulum, mesenteric adenitis, ovarian cyst/torsion, appendix mass, constipation, UTI
What is meckels diverticulum?
A malformation of the distal ileum which is usually asymptomatic but can bleed, become inflamed, rupture or lead to a volvulus or intussusception
What is mesenteric adenitis?
Inflamed abdominal lymph nodes presenting as abdominal pain, usually in younger children. Often associated with tonsillitis or URTI
What is an appendix mass?
When the omentum surrounds and sticks to an inflamed appendix
Is a appendiceal mass treated surgically?
No this is managed conservatively with antibiotics and appendicectomy is considered once the acute condition has resolved
What is biliary atresia?
A congenital condition where a section of the bile duct is either absent or narrowed
With biliary atresia, what type of bilirubin will build up?
Conjugated
What is the management of biliary atresia?
Surgery (kasai portoenterostomy)- attaching a section of small bowel to the liver where the bile duct normally attached
What is kernicterus?
Accumulation of bilirubin in the brain which is neurotoxic leads to irreversible neurological damage
What causes pyloric stenosis?
Hypertrophy of the pyloric sphincter leading to a narrowing of the pylorus preventing stomach content travelling to duodenum as normal
Why do you get projectile vomiting with pyloric stenosis?
There is powerful peristalsis of the stomach as it is trying harder to push stomach content through narrowed pylorus, this becomes so powerful it ejects the food into the oesophagus, and out of the mouth quite forcefully
When and how will pyloric stenosis present in children?
Usually in the first few weeks of life with a hungry baby that is thin, pale and generally failing to thrive. History of projectile non-bilious vomiting
What can be seen on abdominal examination of an infant with pyloric stenosis?
A firm olive shaped mass in epigastrium may be felt (hypertrophy of pylorus), if after feeding peristalsis may be visible
What investigation can be done for pyloric stenosis to visualise the thicken pylorus?
Abdominal ultrasound
What is the treatment for pyloric stenosis?
Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy - incision made in smooth muscle of pylorus to widen the lumen allowing easier passage of stomach contents to duodenum
What is Hirschsprung’s disease?
Congenital condition where nerve cells of the myenteric plexus are absent in the distal bowel and rectum. This aganglionic bowel cannot perform peristalsis
What is the pathophysiology of hirschsprungs and how does this link to development?
Pathophysiology is the absence of parasympathetic ganglionic cells. These migrate down the gut during development, in hirschsprungs they dont migrate all the way down so a section of colon at the end is left without them
How does the normal and aganglionic bowel appear in hirschsprungs?
The aganglionic bowel cannot relax causing it to become constricted and causes the proximal normal bowel to become distended and full of faeces
What are some conditions/syndromes associated with hirschsprungs?
Downs syndromes, neurofibromatosis, waardenburg syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
What can affect the age of presentation for hirschsprungs?
Extent of bowel affected, severity can vary between individuals
How can hirschsprungs present?
Acute intestinal obstruction or gradually developing symptoms
Delay in passing meconium, chronic constipation, abdo pain and distention, vomiting, poor weight gain and failure to thrive