Surgery Flashcards
How do you estimate the weight (kg) in children from age
<1 = (Months x 0.5) +4 1-5 = 2x (Age+4) = THIS ONE >5 = 7 + (Age x 3)
What is the average blood volume in children /kg and why is it important
80ml / kg
If you weight 1kg and lose 2ml then lost 1/4 of volume
What should the urine output in a child be
0.5-1ml / kg / hour
Urine output falls as you get older
What is your insensible fluid loss in children
20ml / kg / day
What is your estimated systolic BP
80 + (2x age)
What are vital sign trends in children and average values
When do you do CPR in a child
Babies breath a lot faster (30-40) and HR a lot faster (110-160)
Babies have much lower BP (70-90)
As you get older this changes and becomes more similar to adult
Sats <92% = oxygen
When do you start CPR on baby
If HR <60 or not breathing properly
Brady <100
What is the pain barrier in children
Children have to communicate pain to teacher / parent / doctor
What should you do if child is in pain
Give analgesia
Not gonna miss Dx
How do you manage pain in children
WHO Pain Ladder
What is the WHO pain ladder
Paracetamol - big dose 4-6hr 15-20mg/kg (calpol age so don’t use)
Ibuprofen - regular 8hr 10mg/kg
Weak opiod
Strong opiod - morphine
What is not recommended in <12
Codeine - prodrug for morphine
Absence of enzyme for metabolising or rapid metaboliser so no effect or overdose
What should you use instead of codeine
Morphine
What do you give as resuscitation fluid
20ml /kg bolus 0.9% NaCl (saline)
What do you give for maintenance fluid
0.9% saline
5% dextrose
+- KCL
What volume of fluid do you give in children
4ml / kg in 1st 10kg
2ml / kg in 2nd 10kg
1ml / kg thereafter
or 100ml / kg for first 10kg
then 50ml / kg
then 20 ml / kg
In 24h period
What are the sentinel signs that children are very unwell
Feed refusal Decreased urine Bile vomit - green Colour - grey Tone Temperature - hypothermic = very sick, hyper = infection
What is green bile vomit suggestive off
Bowel obstruction
What is important in the history of abdominal pain
Colic - dysfunctional gut
Constant - peritoneal irritation
Movement - car?
What does speed bump pain indicate
Peritonitis
Movement irritates peritoneum
What increases the signficance of abdominal pain / RED FLAG
<5 or >14 NOCTURNAL - Almost always organic cause Persistent vomiting - especially green bile so ask colour Severe chronic diarrhoea Fever Anorexia Painful micturition Rectal bleed Weight loss Dysphagia Abdominal tenderness / distension / mass / HSM Fever. /rash / joint pain Signs of unwell child / vitals off
What does diarrhoea suggest
Inflammation of the appendix Irritating the colon
What is tenesmus
Feeling like you want to go to the toilet after emptying
What does anorexia suggest
Septic infection so lose appetite
Hungry children = less likely to be surgical
What does previous history suggest
Lessens chance of surgery
What is important to ask in abdominal pain
Menstrual history
How do you investigate abdominal pain
Vital signs Examination - Abdo - Hernia - Testis for hernia Urine dip - everyone as could be UTI Pregnancy test Glucose for DKA
Bloods - not always helpful, better to observe but would do if red flags
FBC - if diagnostic doubt / worried (may show anaemia)
CRP / ESR
Electrolytes if very sick / dry
Surgical opinion
Imaging
X-Ray - rare / bowel obstruction (only if surgeon requests for specific reason e.g. toxic megacolon)
USS = useful in paeds
CT if trauma
What is the triad of appendicitis
Pain - central abdominal radiate to RIF Guarding and rebound Vomiting = not continuous Moderate fever - if high more likely mesenteric Anorexia Look unwell Tachy
How do you diagnose appendicitis
Active observation
When is appendicitis unusual in
<4 but greater risk of perforation
Where is the tenderness in appendicitis
McBurney’s point
1/3 way between ASIS + umbilicus
Roving - pressing LLQ increases pain in RLQ
What are the complications of appendicitis
Abscess
Peritonitis after perforation
How do you manage appendicitis
Analgesia - Paracetamol best option
Fluid
Ax
Laparoscopic removal
What are the symptoms of non specific abdominal pain
What is it associated with
Short duration Central Constant Not worse by movement No GIT disturbance / vomiting No temperature Normal energy levels Site and severity of tenderness vary Often recurrent Can mimic early appendicitis - active observation Examination normal Responds to distraction
Can do bloods, calprotectin, coeliac screen to reassure parents
Must ensure growth and development normal
FODMAP can help
Associated with
- Abdo migraine
- IBS
- High achieving / OCD personality
What is mesenteric adenitis
Viral illness Abdominal pain due to inflamed LN in mesentery High temperature URTI history often Not unwell If tummy is soft then fine
Why can pneumonia cause abdominal pain
Pleural irritation referred Very unwell - tachy, CRP, breathing No abdominal signs - soft tummy Global killer of children in <5 Typically lower R lobe