Week 5- common surgical problems of the neonate Flashcards
Why does a neonates bowel perforate?
How will it show on Xray?
The gut receives food before its ready causing a hole to form.
Will show free gas on X-ray.
What two signs are associated with perforated bowel?
Rigglers sign- if there is free gas on both sides of the abdominal wall, the wall will be well defined.
Tramlining.
What is necrotising enterocolitis?
Part of the gut gets inflamed and starts to die. Can lead to perforation.
What are the three ways a tube can be blocked?
Externally- something pushing in
Internally
Something in the wall.
If a baby hasn’t passed stool in the first 48 hours, should you be worried?
Yes.
What is meconium?
Earliest stool of the baby. Really dark black stool. Consists of things the baby had in the uterus e.g. amniotic fluid, mucus and intestinal epithelial cells.
When is meconium supposed to be expelled?
In the first 24 hours of a babies life.
Why does meconium not move through sometimes?
Genetic disorder- Hirschsprungs disease
Cystic fibrosis- 1/3rd present as this.
What is the condition called when meconium can’t pass through the bowels?
Meconium ileus.
What is Hirschsprungs disease?
The large colon doesn’t form nerves on it so stool can’t pass through.
