Surgery Flashcards
What is exomphalos?
When the abdominal contents protrudes through the umbilical ring and is covered with a transparent sac (aminotic membrane and peritoneum)
What is gastroschisis
When the bowel protrudes through a defect in the anterior abdo wall, adjacent to the umbilicus, with no covering sac
What causes ventral body wall defects?
Increased risk with conditions related to placental insufficiency
- materal illness and infection
- drugs, alcohol, smoking
Which tests can detect a ventral body wall defect?
- increased alpha-fetoprotein
- abnormal US
- both in second trimester
How would exomphalos present?
- 4-12 cm abdo wall defect
- central, epigastric or hypogastric
- 75% have associated defects
How would gastroschisis present?
- opening > 5cm
- Right side of umbilical cord
- 15% have associated defects
What investigations would you perform on suspected ventral body wall defect?
- MSAFP (maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein)
- karyotyping, strong link between exomphalos and chromosomal abnormalities
- imaging
- US
- ?MRI (liver abnormalities)
- Amniocentesis(diagnostic test carried out during pregnancy to assess whether the unborn baby could develop a genetic or chromosomal condition)
How would you manage exomphalos?
- surgery +/- silo
- if sac ruptures manage same as gastroschisis
How would you manage gastroschisis?
- wrap baby in clingfilm to minimise fluid and heat loss
- wrap cord in clingfilm to make sure its kept moist for plastic closure
- NG tube
- plastic closure - gradual decompression of abdo contents from silo into abdo (better because no GA)
- primary closure
- gastric function to comense over several weeks, if not functioning by 6/52 then re-think
What are the risk factors for NEC?
- prematurity
- low birth weight
- preterm infants fed cows milk formula
How and when does NEC present?
- usually in the first 2/52
- stop tolerating feeds
- bile stained vomit, fresh blood in stools
- distended stomach
- shock
What are the X-ray features of NEC?
- distended loops of bowel
- thickening bowel wall with intramural gas
- gas in portal tract
- bowel perforation in progressive disease
What is the management of NEC?
- stop oral feeding - parenteral nutrition (PPN, TPN, NGT)
- artifical vent, circulatory support
- surgery
Common hernias in children
indirect inguinal (through the deep ring)
Inguinal hernias aetiology
- more common in boys
- patent processus vaginalis
- common in prematurity
Inguinal hernia presentation
- swelling in groin or scrotum on crying or straining (increase in intra-abdo pressure, can be recreated on examination by asking pt to cough or pressing on abdo)
- thickening of spermatic cord (round ligament in females)
- irreducible lump (firm and tender)
- unwell (vomiting and irritable)
Inguinal Hernia tx
- most irreducible hernias can be reduced by opiod analgesia and gentle compression
- surgery
What causes a hydrocele?
Patent processus vaginalis allows peritoneal fluid to track down around testis
How does a hydrocele present?
- presents at birth or in early childhood after an infection
- Generally asymptomatic scrotal swelling
- bilateral bluish colour
- non-tender and transilluminate
Hydrocele tx
- spontaneous resolution
- sugery if persists past 18-24 months of age
Define vomiting
forceful ejection of gastric contents
Define posseting
non-forceful return of small amounts of milk, often accompanied by return of swallowed air (wind). common.
Define regurgitation
frequent non-forceful return of large amounts of milk
Common causes of vomiting in infants
- GOR
- feeding problems
- infection (gastroenteritis, resp/urinary tract, otitis media, whooping cough, meningitis)
- dietary protein intolerances
- intestinal obstruction (pyloric stenosis, atresia, intussusception, malrotation, volvulus, hirschsprungs)
- metabolic errors
- congential adrenal hyperplasia
- renal failure