Paediatric surgery Flashcards
Common causes of surgical abdominal pain in children?
appendicitis intusseception testicular torsion malrotation/volvulus hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
Most common cause of vomiting and abdominal pain in children?
sepsis
what is the typical risk factor for malrotation/volvulus in a neonate
narrow mesentary between iliocaecal valve and DJ flexure prone to twisting of gut around superior mesenteric vessels
complications of malrotation?
arterial ischaemia
why do we take out the appendix out of kids who have surgery for malrotation?
to prevent them from developing appendicitis in the LUQ where the caecum usually goes after repacking of bowel during the surgery
commonest intestinal obstruction presentation?
hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
age and sex of a patient we normally see with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
male + 3 week old
what is the metabolic derangement typical of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
hypochloraemia
hypokalemia
metabolic alkalosis
vomit out HCL, K+ –> alkalosis
what is the paradoxical change in the urine of a child with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and why does it occur?
acidic urine
–> body’s compensation for keep on throwing out HCL from vomiting–> kidneys throw out HCL to try and conserve Na+
how do we calculate the size of the ETT for a child?
age/4 + 4
what surgical procedure do we do for malrotation and volvulus?
ladd’s procedure
an infant comes into ED with bilious vomiting. what ix do you order and why
upper GI contrast study to exclude malrotation
what are some clinical presentation features of a child with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
More common in boys
Hereditary component- 20% of cases (usually from mother’s side)
Appetite preserved! Hungry child!
projectile vomiting
dehydration
what ix to order with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
- U/s
- Blood test (gas/UEC)
Metabolic alkalosis due to reduced Cl- and K+ - urine sample
Paradoxical acidic urine
define intussusception
invagination of proximal into distal bowel
what is a common cause of intussusception?
enlarged peyer’s patches in terminal ileum
what is the peak of age seen for intussusception cases?
5-11months
how do we treat intussusception?
Gas reduction enema under fluoroscopy
or for more severe cases- laparotomy
what are common pathological lead points in older children who get intussusception?
polyps
merkel’s diverticulum
when is the peak incidence of appendicitis?
10-12yrs of age
how might retrocaecal appendicitis present clinically?
vague non-localising RIF pain with deep RIF tenderness, often without guarding
what is a key differential for pelvic appendicitis?
gastroenteritis
how might pelvic appendicitis present clinically?
vague lower abdominal pain and tenderness
urinary symptoms
diarrhoea
no guarding
what is an external angular dermoid cyst? What does it feel like? When does it present?
embryological abnormality- usually on the top of eyebrow
anomaly of fusion between the fronto-nasal and maxillary processes during formation of the head and face
Often feels bony because it lies under the periosteum
usually presents around 3-12 months
what is another name for strawberry naevus?
congenital haemangioma
when might we surgically treat a strawberry naevus
if it blocks the visual axis; if it is on the eyebrow causing secondary blindness
what does the ‘setting sun eyes’ sign refer to?
can see the sclera from the side when normally you shouldn’t be able to
indicates ophthalmoplegia due to increased ICP and is associated with perinaud’s syndrome
extremely rare sign
what might you think if you saw a lump around the lower back to bottom (coccyx) in a newborn?
sacrococcylgeal teratoma
why do we surgically fix cleft palate around 6-9 months?
Because having a cleft palate will affect the voice we need to surgically correct it.
6-9months is when the baby begins to develop their voice and so this is the best time to perform the procedure
what is virchow’s lymph node? what is its significance?
sentinel lymph node at the end of the thoracic duct
–> situated above left clavicle
an enlarged virchow’s lymph node is always malignant.
may indicate cancer from bowel/pancreas/lung/stomach/lymphoma
what are the 2 types of lymphomas that can cause virchow’s lymph node in a child?
hodgkin disease or neuroblastoma
what do you think if there are more than 3 malformations in a newborn?
multiple malformation syndrome
how do we investigate intussusception in a child?
U/s
but gold standard= contrast enema study under fluoroscepy as it can also be therapeutic. Contraindication would be perforation though
tell me about sacrococcygeal teratomas?
A teratoma arising from and attached to the tip of the sacrum or the front of the coccyx – a rare congenital anomaly arising in 1/40000 births (slightly more
frequently in females).
It is usually obvious at birth and may be so large as to cause obstetric difficulties.
The tumour is a mixture of solid and cystic areas arising from all embryonic layers. It is benign at birth but has a high risk (5‐35%) of turning malignant postnatally. This malignant degeneration is much less likely if removed
immediately after birth
how do cleft palates arise?
cleft palate- failure of the maxillary plates to fuse horizontally
what is the eponymous name for torsion of the testicular appendage?
hydatid of morgagni
at what age is torsion of the testicular appendage more common in males?
at less than 11 years
what are the two peaks of incidence for testicular torsion in boys?
babies and greater than 13 yrs
which boys are predisposed to testicular torsion?
boys with a bell clapper deformity–> longer mesentary–> testes heavier during puberty–> increased risk of torsion
what is the classic shape of bilateral hydrocoele?
dumbbell shaped because the pathology is WITHIN the TUNICA VAGINALIS (inside the peritoneal cavity)