Pediatric Surgery Flashcards
How are hydroceles classified?
- *1. Communicating hydrocele**
- Processus vaginalis fails to close
- Fluid moves freely between the peritoneal cavity and the scrotal space through the patent processus
- Can lead to an indirect inguinal hernia
- Increases with size with standing and Vasalva
- Smaller in the morning, larger at night
- *2. Non-communicating hydrocele**
- Fluid trapped in the tunica vaginalis
- May be secondary to testicular pathology
Hydroceles are usually PAINLESS, and are associated with prematurity and the male gender.
What is the prevalence of hydroceles?
1-2% of live births
What physical signs are specific for hydroceles?
- Transillumination
- Silk glove sign: palpating the hydrocele through the pubic tubercle feels like silk rubbing against silk
What investigations are indicated for hydroceles?
Scrotal ultrasound to rule out other pathologies (especially testicular pathologies in older children)
Most hydroceles resolve spontanesouly by the first year.
What are the indications for surgical repair?
- Persistence for >2 years
- Pain
- Infection
- Fluctuation in size, suggesting a communication
- Cosmetic reasons
Hydroceles are found in 5-10% of testicular tumours.
Hydroceles are typically unilateral.
7-10% of hydroceles are bilateral.
What is the main symptom for hydroceles not associated with epididymitis?
Painless scrotal swelling
The processus vaginalis is not expected to close spontaneously in children over 18 months.
Communicating hydroceles are usually surgically repaired at around 2 years of age to allow the processus vaginalis the chance and sufficient time to close by itself.
Surgical repair is the preferred method for:
- Children over two years of age
- Those that reoccur after aspiration
- Removal of large or painful hydroceles in adults
How does one choose between the transinguinal and the transscrotal approach for hydrocelectomy?
Usually an outpatient procedure under GA
- Transscrotal: uncomplicated hydrocele
>> Repair of patent processus
>> Removal of the hydrocele sac and fluid
>> Closure of scrotal incisio - Transinguinal: complications such as inguinal hernia
>> Repair of hernia + correction of hydrocele
What are the complications of hydrocelectomy?
- General risks
- Anesthetic risks
- Bleeding from the surgical incision
- Infection
- Internal bleeding - Specific risks
- Injury to spermatic vessels –> infertility
What is the prevalence of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
0.03-1% of live births
At what age does hypertrophic pyloric stenosis present?
1-20 weeks
Usually at 6-8 weeks
What is an important acquired risk factor for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is associated with early erythromycin exposure at <13 days old.
What is the pathophysiology of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
ACQUIRED pyloric circular muscle hypertrophy resulting in gastric outlet obstruction
How would children with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis present?
- *History**
1. Projectile non-bilious vomiting 30-60mins after feeding
2. Dehydration - *Physical Examination**
1. Palpable ~1-2cm “olive” mass above umbilicus
2. Visible left-to-right peristalsis after feeding - *Investigations**
1. Hypovolemia
2. Hypochloremic hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis
3. Paradoxical aciduria
What investigations should be ordered in a child suspected to have hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
- Electrolytes
>> Hypochloremia
>> Hypokalemia
>> Hydration status - Blood gas
>> Metabolic alkalosis
3. Ultrasound
>> Pyloric length >14mm
>> Pyloric muscle thickness >4mm
- Upper GI series
>> String sign
What are the options for treating hypertrophic pyloric stenosis?
- Fluid resuscitation
- Correct electrolyte and acid/base disturbances
- Medical treatment (for poor surgical canditiates only)
- Atropine
- TPN and waiting - Surgical repair
- Open Ramstedt pyloromyotomy
- Transumbilical pyloromyotomy
- Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy
The curative treatment and the procedure of choice for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is the Ramstedt procedure.
- Open RUQ transverse incision
- Open circumbilical incision
- Laparoscopic
How are congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) classified?
- Posterolateral (Bochdalek)
- Left-sided: 85%
- Right-sided: 15%
- Bilateral: rare, often fatal - Anterior (Morgagni)
- Hiatus
What is the prevalence of congenital diaphragmatic hernias?
1 in 2000-5000 live births
How do CDH present?
- Early respiratory distress
- Cyanosis
- Bowel gas sounds in the chest
- Decreased air entry
-
Scaphoid abdomen
** Prenatal diagnosis**
- Left-sided
>> Stomach
>> Small bowel
>> Large bowel
>> Solid organs: spleen, left hepatic lobe - Right-sided
>> Liver
>> Large bowel - Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary hypoplasia
NB: >10% are associated with other congenital abnormalities
What investigations should be performed in a patient with suspected congenital diaphragmatic hernia?
- *PRENATAL MRI/ULTRASOUND
- Polyhydramnios
- Location of fetal liver
- Estimation of fetal lung volumes**
- *BLOOD WORK**
- Arterial blood gas: keep pH >7.2
IMAGING
- Chest X-ray
>> Bowel in the thorax
>> Loss of normal diaphragmatic contour
>> Mediastinal shift
- Echocardiogram
How is CDH treated?
-
IMMEDIATE POSTNATAL CARE
>> Neonatologist in labour ward is usually required
>> Supplemental oxygen and ETT
>> NB: bag-mask ventilation should be AVOIDED - Decompression by orogastric/nasogastric aspiration
- Maintain ventilation and stabilization
>> HFOV/ECMO
>> NO/epoprostenol/sildenafil: pulmonary HTN
>> Minimize peak inspiratory pressure to <25cmH2O
>> Maintain preductal oxygen saturation at >85%
>> Ventilation rate: 40-60 breaths per minute
>> PEEP: 3-5 - Surgery only when stable
>> Open VS. thoracoscopy VS. laparoscopy
>> Reduction of herniated contents
>> Repair of diaphragmatic defect
~~ Primary repair
~~ Synethetic/muscular patch
Excessive bag-mask ventilation should be avoided in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia as it can exacerbate GI distention which further impedes lung ventilation.
What are the complications/commonly associated defects with CDH?
- Pulmonary hypoplasia —> chronic lung disease
- Failure to thrive
- GERD
- Recurrence
- Associated congenital defects
- Hearing deficit
- MSK defects
What is the rule of 2s for Meckel’s Diverticulum?
- 2% of the population
- 2:1 male to female ratio
- 2% of those with Meckel’s are symptomatic
- Found within 2 feet from the ileocecal valve
- 2 inches in length
- 2 inches in diameter
- 2 types of ectopic tissue: gastric and pancreatic
- Often presents at 2 years of age
What are the possible presentations of vitelline duct remnants?
- Meckel’s diverticulum
- Enterocyst/vitelline cyst
- Vitelline fistula
NB: Meckel’s diverticulum is the most common remnant of the vitelline duct
About 50% of all Meckel’s diverticulae contain heterotropic/ectopic tissue: gastric or pancreatic.
What is the pathophysiology of Meckel’s diverticulum?
Failure of the vitelline duct to regress at 5-7 weeks in utero
What are some associated anomalies with Meckel’s diverticulum?
- Omphalomesenteric fistula
- Umbilical sinus
- Umbilical cyst
- Fibrous band
What are the common complications/presentations of Meckel’s diverticulum?
- PR fresh blood (ectopic gastric mucosal ulceration)
- Abdominal sepsis (diverticulus +/- perforation)
- Volvulus
What are some investigations commonly performed for symptomatic/suspected Meckel’s?
- Abdominal X-ray: perforation
-
Meckel scan
- Technetium Tc99m pertechnetate IV
- For ectopic gastric mucosae
- Sensitivity 85%
- Specificity 95%
Meckel’s scan is less accurate (46%) in adults due to the reduced prevalence of ectopic gastric mucosa within the diverticulum.
How are Meckel diverticulae treated?
Resection is curative
- In symptomatic patients
- Simple diverticulectomy in uncomplicated cases
- Segmental small bowel resection
>> Acute diverticulitis
>> Wide-based diverticulum
>> Volvulus with necrotic bowel
>> Bleeding - +/- incidental appendectomy
NB: Incidental diverticulectomy during surgery for other abdominal pathology is NOT indicated – lifelong morbidity associated with the presence of a Meckel’s diverticulum is extremely low.
What is the most common congenital obstructive urethral lesion in male infants?
Posterior urethral valve
What is the pathophysiology of PUV?
Abnormal mucosal folds at the distal prostatic urethra causing varying degrees of obstruction
How do posterior urethral valves present?
Depends on the age of presentation
- *Antenatal**
- Bilateral hydronephrosis
- Bladder distension
- Oligohydramnios
- *Neonatal (detected at birth)**
- Palpable abdominal mass – distended bladder
- Ascites – transudation of retroperitoneal urine
- Respiratory distress – pulmonary hypoplasia from oligohydramnios
- Weak urinary stream
- *Neonatal (not detected at birth**)
- Urosepsis
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Failure to thrive
- *Toddlers**
- UTI
- Voiding dysfunction
- *School-aged boys**
- Voiding dysfunction –> urinary incontinence
What are the commmon complications of posterior urethral valve?
- Urinary retention
- Overflow incontinence
- Urosepsis
- Urinary tract infections
- Pulmonary hypoplasia leading to respiratory distress
- Secondary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR)
- Secondary renal dysplasia
What investigations should be performed for a suspected case of posterior urethral valve?
Mostly on prenatal ultrasound
- Bilateral hydroneprhosis
- Thickened bladder
- “Keyhole sign”: dilated posterior urethra
- Oligohydramnios
Postnatal – VCUG/MCUG
- Dilated and elongated posterior urethra
- Trabeculated bladder
- Secondary VUR
How are PUVs treated?
- Immediate catheterization to relieve obstruction
- Cystoscopic PUV resection when stable
- Vesicostomy if cystoscopic resection no possible
What are the possible underlying causes for antenatal hydronephrosis?
Kidney
- Multicystic dysplastic kidney
Renal pelvis
- Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction
Ureter
- Ureterocele
- Ectopic ureter
Ureterovesical junction (UVJ)
- UVJ obstruction
- VUR (vesicoureteric reflux)
Urethra/Genitalia
- PUV (posterior urethral valve) – only in boys
Systemic/All along the urinary tract
- Duplication abnormalities
Majority of antenatal hydronephroses resolve during pregnancy or within the first year of life.
- Detectable as early as first trimester
- One of the most common ultrasound abnormalities in pregnancy
What are the possible causes of UPJ obstruction?
Primary
- Stricture
- Stenosis
- Adynamic ureteral segment
- Extrinsic compression
- Aberrant blood vessels
Secondary/Underlying pathology
- Tumour
- Stone
- Extrinsic causes
Up to 40% of UPJ obstructions are bilateral, which may be associated with worse prognosis.
What is the most common presentation of UPJ obstruction?
Asymptomatic finding on antenatal ultrasound
If symptomatic, how would UPJ obstruction present?
Depends on age of presentation
Infants
- Urinary tract infection
- Abdominal mass
Children
- Pain
- Vomiting
- Failure to thrive
Adolescents/Adults
- Dietl’s crisis: symptoms of retention etc. triggered by episodes of increased diuresis, such as following alcohol ingestion
How is UPJ obstruction treated?
Surgical correction by pyeloplasty
- Consider nephrectomy if <15% differential renal function (as per DTPA/MAG3)
What is vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)?
Retrograde passage of urine from the bladder, through the UVJ (ureterovesicular junction) into the ureter
How is VUR classified?
Primary VUR
- From incompetent or incomplete closure of VUJ
- Possible causes
>> Lateral ureteral insertion
>> Short submucosal segment
Secondary VUR
- From abnormally high intravesical pressure resulting in the failure of VUJ closure
- Possible causes
>> Anatomical: posterior urethral valve (PUV)
>> Functional: neurogenic bladder dysfunction
What are the risk factors for VUR?
- White race (VS. black race)
- Female gender
- Age <2 years
- Genetic predisposition
Incidence and clinical relevance is higher in children with febrile UTIs and prenatal hydronephrosis.
What should be asked in a patient with suspected VUR/follow-up for VUR?
- *Urinary symptoms/Voiding dysfunction**
- Frequency
- Urgency
- Noctural/diurnal enuresis
- Noctural diuresis
- *Bowel symptoms**
- Constipation
- Encopresis (voluntary/involuntary fecal soiling in already toilet-trained children)
- *Signs of infection**
- UTI
- Pyelonephritis
- Urosepsis
- *Signs of renal failure**
- Uremia
- Hypertension
Initial evaluation of RENAL STATUS**, **BLOOD PRESSURE**, and **GROWTH PARAMETERS is warranted in any child with VUR confirmed due to the high incidence of renal scarring.
- Creatinine
- Urinarlysis and culture
- Renal ultrasound
- DMSA if at high risk
Primary VUR (due to incomplete closure or incompetence of the UVJ) resolves spontaneously in 60%.
How is VUR treated?
Depends on severity
- I-III: prevent infection or renal damage via medical treatment and monitoring
- IV-V: aggressive treatment
Medical treatment
- Long-term ABx prophylaxis at half the treatment dose for half the treatment time
>> TMP-SMX
>> Trimethoprim
>> Amoxicillin
>> Nitrofurantoin
- *Surgical treatment**
- Ureteral reimplantation +/- ureteroplasty
- Subureteral injection with bulking agents
What are the indications for surgical treatment in VUR?
- Persistent high-grade VUR (Grades IV-V)
- Breakthrough UTI
- Failure of medical treatment
- Renal scarring
>> Renal insufficiency
>> Hypertension
How is VUR graded?
I. Fills ureters
II. Fills ureter and pelvis
III. Fills ureter and pelvis with some dilation
IV. Fills ureter, pelvis and calyces with significant dilation
V. Fills ureter, pelvis and calyces with major dilation and tortuosity
What is hypospadias?
Urethral meatus opens on the ventral side (anterior side with the penis erected) of the penis, proximal to the normal location in the glans penis
- Complicated with
>> Voiding dysfunction
>> Difficulty in directing urinary stream
>> Infertility
What are the indications for urgent referral for hypospadias?
- Micropenis
- Bifid and prepenile scrotum
- Asymmetrical gonads
- Severe hypospadias
These features are associated with an increased likelihood for disorders of sexual differentiation (DSD).
How is hypospadias classified?
By the location of the urethral meatus
- Glandular
- Coronal
- Subcoronal
- Distal penile
- Midshaft
- Proximal penile
- Penoscrotal
- Scrotal
- Perineal
How prevalent is hypospadias?
Very common
1 in 300 male live births
What are some associated conditions with hypospadias?
- Ventral penile curvature (chordee)
- Disorders of sexual differentiation (DSD)
- Undescended testicles
- Inguinal hernia
How is hypospadias treated?
Early surgical correction
- Neonatal circumcision should be deferred since the foreskin may be utilized in the correction repair
- Optimal repair before 2 years of age
Defer circumcision in patients with hypospadias.
What is the epispadias-exstrophy complex?
A spectrum of defects depending on the time of the rupture of the cloanal membrane – failure of closure of the cloacal membrane
- Epispadias
>> Mildest form
>> Urethra opens on the dorsal aspect of the penis - Bladder exstrophy
>> Absence of a portion of the lower abdominal and anterior bladder walls
>> Exposure of the bladder lumen - Cloanal exstrophy
>> Most severe
>> Exposed bladder and bladder with imperforate anus
>> Associated with spina bifida in >50%
The epispadias-exstrophy complex is usually associated with high morbidity due to associated incontinence, infertility and reflux.
What is the treatment for epispadias-exstrophy complex?
Surgical correction at birth
Later corrections may be necessary for:
- Incontinence
- VUR
- Bladder capcacity
What is Wilm’s tumour?
Nephroblastoma – arises from abnormal proliferation of metanephric blastema (embryological precursor of the nephrons and proximal collecting system)
What is the average age of presentation of Wilm’s tumour?
3 years old
Wilm’s tumour is the most common primary malignant renal tumour of childhood.
5% of Wilm’s tumours are bilateral.
Wilm’s tumours take up 5% of all childhood cancers.
What is the most common presentation of Wilm’s tumour?
Abdominal mass: large, firm and UNILATERAL (does not cross midline)
- Hypertension: 25%
- Flank tenderness
- Microscopic hematuria
- Nausea and vomiting
Always investigate the contralateral kidney in a case of Wilm’s tumour.
How are Wilm’s tumours managed?
- *Unilateral disease**
- Radical nephrectomy
- +/- Radiation
- +/- Chemotherapy
- *Bilateral disease**
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
- NEPHRON-SPARING surgery
The difference in the management plan denotes the importance of investigating/examining the contralateral kidney in all cases of Wilm’s tumours.
What is the prognosis of Wilm’s tumours?
5-year survival 80%
What is cryptorchidism?
Abnormal location of testes somewhere along the normal path of descent
- *Locations according to incidence** (from commonest to least common)
1. External inguinal ring
2. Inguinal canal
3. Abdominal