Paediatric Surgery Flashcards
Give 5 causes of acute scrotal pain
Testicular Torsion Irreducible Hernia Torsion of Testicular Appendage Epididymo-Orchitis Testicular/Epididymal Rupture
How does Torsion of Testicular Appendage present?
Prepubertal child
Minimal pain at rest
Tenderness of upper pole
Blue dot on upper hemiscrotum
How does a Testicular/Epididymal Rupture present?
Pain and swelling may be delayed
Tender on palpation
Bruised appearance
Give four causes of non painful testicular swellings in Children
Hydrocoele
Varicocoele
Idiopathic Scrotal Oedema (can extend into groin)
Tumour/Leukaemia
Name five red flags for acute scrotal pain/swelling
Severe Sudden Pain Impaired Gait High Riding Non Reducible Irritable
How should Acute Scrotal Pain/Swelling be investigated?
Irreducible hernia and Torsion need to be excluded first
USS and Doppler
Urinalysis MC and S
If suspecting that’s the Acute scrotum will require surgical management, how should you prepare?
Fasting/Clear Fluids
Consider NG tube if bowel obstruction
Adequate pain relief
How is a Hydrocoele managed?
90% resolve within first two years
How is a Varicocoele managed?
Outpatient surgery
How is Torsion of Testicular Appendage managed?
Supportive only
Give 5 causes of Acute Pancreatitis
Abdominal Trauma Systemic Infection (Mumps, Rubella) Medications (Azathioprine, Steroids) Metabolic (CF) Hereditary
How would Acute Pancreatitis present?
Abdominal Pain
Vomiting
Abdominal Tenderness
Guarding
Maybe lying on side with hips flexed
How would Acute Haemorrhagic Pancreatitis present?
Life threatening shock
ARDS
DIC
Grey Turners and Cullens Sign
What investigations would you do for Acute Pancreatitis?
Amylase (peaks after 48h and remains elevated for 4d)
Lipase (more specific and remains elevated for 8-14d)
USS (focally diffused/enlarged)
ERCP (if suspected biliary abnormalities)
How is Acute Pancreatitis managed?
IV Hydration
Pain Control
Bowel Rest
If complicated - surgery
How is Chronic Pancreatitis managed?
Could consider Pancreatectomy
When does Orchitis occur in isolation?
Only normally with Mumps
What is Mumps?
Unilateral or bilateral orchitis with fever, 4-8d after Parotitis
Self resolving but can lead to atrophy and infertility
Notifiable disease
Describe the pathophysiology of Epididymorchitis
Extension of infection from Lower Urinary Tract, either Enteric or STI (In older children)
UTI - E.Coli, Proteus Saprophyticus, Klebsiella
STI - N.Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia
How does Epididymitis present?
Unilateral scrotal pain and associated swelling
Dysuria
Discharge
Fever
?Reactive Hydrocoele, Prehn’s Sign
How should Epididymitis be investigated?
Urine dipstick MC and S
If relevant, first catch NAAT
FBC and CRP
USS (will require renal USS if second episode)
How is Epididymitis managed?
Bed rest and scrotal support
Empirical Antibiotics - Enteric requires Ofloxacin, STI requires Ceftriaxone Doxycycline and potentially Azithromycin
Testicular Torsion occurs when spermatic cord twists within Tunica Vaginalis. Describe the pathophysiology
Impaired arterial flow, venous return and subsequent venous congestion and oedema
More vulnerable if bell clapped (lacks attachment to tunica)
What is an extravaginal torsion?
Attachment between scrotum and tunica Vaginalis is not fully formed and entire testes and tunica Vaginalis can tort
Can occur in utero, so should be checked at birth
Give three risk factors for Testicular Torsion
Age 12-25
Previous Torsion
Undescended Testes
What are the clinical features of Testicular Torsion?
Sudden onset unilateral scrotal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Referred abdominal pain
Absent Cremasteric Reflex
How would you manage Testicular Torsion?
Immediate surgical exploration within 6 hours
Analgesia, Abx, Fluids
Bilateral Orchidopexy
What is Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans?
Normally there are adhesions between prelude and glans that break down as child ages
Keratinisation of the two of foreskin causing scarring and pathological phimosis
How does BXO present?
Ballooning of foreskin in Micturition
Irritation, dysuria, haematuria from scarring
OE - white fibrotic and scarred with difficulty in meatus visualisation
How is BXO managed?
Circumcision and subsequently histopathology to confirm diagnosis
What is Cryptorchidism?
Congenital absence of one or both testes in scrotum due to failure of developmental descent
Can be: True Undescended (lying along line of descent), Ectopic (Lying away from path of descent) or Ascending (previously descended)
What diagnosis would you consider with bilateral Cryptorchidism?
Androgen Insensitivity or Disorder of Sex Development
Give three risk factors for Cryptorchidism
Prematurity
Low Birth Weight
FH
How should you examine an undescended teste?
Palpate from Inguinal ring to Pubic symphysis
If found try to pull it down (if easy - retractile testes, if under tensions- high testes)
If unable to pull down - Inguinal Undescended Teste
If you suspected that Disorder of Sex Development was the cause of Cryptorchidism, how would you manage?
Senior paediatrician referral within 24 hours (at risk from salt losing crisis in CAH)
How would you manage Cryptorchidism?
Continue to review, if undescended at 6-12m then operate
Palpable - Orchidopexy via Groin Incision
Non Palpable - 2 stage procedure for Intra-abdominal
What are the complications with Undescended Testes?
Impaired Fertility (due to temperature difference impairing spermatogenesis)
Torsion
Testicular Cancer
What is Hirschsprung’s disease?
AKA Congenital Aganglionic Megacolon Disease
Ganglion is cells fail to develop in large intestine, commonly presenting as delayed Meconium passage
Associated with Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
What are the three types of Hirschsprung?
Short Segment (85%) - Aganglionosis restricted to rectosigmoid
Long Segment (10%) - Aganglionosis spreads to splenic flexure
Total Colon (may also involve small bowel)
Describe the pathophysiology of Hirschsprungs
Failure of neural crest cells to enter normally through vagus nerve
Aganglionic sections remain ‘tonic’ and faeces in rectum do not trigger sphincter relaxation
Stasis leads to Enterocolitis
What is the classical triad of Hirschsprungs?
Failure to pass Meconium after 48 hours
Abdominal Distension
Bilious Vomiting
What would you see OE in Hirschsprungs?
Dilation of proximal bowel (palpated mass in LLQ)
Empty rectal vault
Give two differentials for Hirschsprungs and how you would rule them out
Meconium Plug
Meconium Ileus
Water Soluble Enema