3. ●Vomiting (emesis) refers to the forceful oral
expulsion of gastric contents associated with
coordinated contraction of the abdominal and
chest wall musculature.
●Nausea generally refers to an unmistakable
sensation of unpleasantness that may
precede vomiting but may be present even in
a child who does not vomit. It is often
associated with autonomic changes such as
salivation, increased heart and respiratory
rates, and a reduction in gastric tone and
mucosal blood flow
Approach to the vomiting infant
4. Approach to the vomiting infant
History of Presenting Illness
Characteristics of vomitus
Smell
Quantity
Colour
Blood – bright red/dark red/coffee-
ground
Bilious
Timing
Onset
Duration
Frequency
Time of day
Triggers
Associated Symptoms
Diarrhea
Fever
Abdominal pain/distension
Anorexia
Stool frequency
Urinary Output
Headache
Vertigo
Lethargy
Stiff neck
Cough
Sore throat
Past medical history, medication, allergies
Chronic illnesses (diabetes)
Travel history (infectious gastroenteritis)
Sexual history (pregnancy)
Ineffective use of birth control
Last menstrual period
Recent head trauma
Toxin exposure
https://learn.pediatrics.ubc.ca/body-systems/gastrointestinal/approach-to-vomiting/
5. Approach to the vomiting infant
Physical Exam Findings
Vitals
Fever – sign of infection
Hypotension, tachycardia – volume loss
Inspection
Consciousness – intracranial hypertension, meningitis,
metabolic disorders, toxic ingestion
Weight loss – eating disorders, obstruction
Head and Neck
Red, bulging tympanic membrane – ear infection
Bulging anterior fontanelle and nuchal rigidity –
meningitis
Erythematous tonsils – upper respiratory tract infection
Cardiovascular system
Tachycardia – infection, dehydration
Abdominal exam
Abdominal distention – obstruction, mass,
congenital abnormality, organomegaly
Bowel sounds – high pitched tinkle (obstruction),
absent (ileus)
Guarding, rigidity, rebound tenderness –
appendicitis, peritoneal inflammation
Skin and extremities
Petechiae or purpura – serious infection
Skin turgor, capillary refill – dehydration
Jaundice – metabolic disorder
Rashes – food intolerance, viral infection
Red flags:
Lethargy and listlessness
Inconsolability and bulging fontanelle in an infant
Nuchal rigidity, photophobia, and fever in an older
child
Peritoneal signs or abdominal distention (“surgical”
abdomen)
Persistent vomiting with poor growth or development
https://learn.pediatrics.ubc.ca/body-systems/gastrointestinal/approach-to-vomiting/
6. Approach to
the vomiting infant
https://learn.pediatrics.ubc.ca/body-systems/gastrointestinal/approach-to-vomiting/
9. Duodenal atresia Congenital partial or complete blockage of the intestine.
Duodenal atresia is associated with other anomalies in more than
half of infants. Down syndrome is the most common associated
disorder but can also be associated with biliary, cardiac, renal or
vertebral anomalies. Jejunal and ileal atresia can be seen in
meconium ileus secondary to cystic fibrosis.
10. Duodenal atresia
Duodenal atresia appears as a
double-bubble sign (gas in the
stomach and enlarged proximal
duodenum), with no gas distally.
14. Midgut volvulus Midgut volvulus is a condition in which the intestine has become twisted as a
result of malrotation during. Malrotation of the intestine occurs when the normal
embryologic sequence of bowel development and fixation is interrupted.
16. Meconium Ileus
Initial medical management
● Manage both simple and complicated meconium ileus in newborns
as an intestinal obstruction.
● Perform resuscitative measures, including mechanical respiratory
support, if necessary.
● Initiate intravenous (IV) hydration with gastric decompression.
● Empiric antibiotic coverage.
Under fluoroscopic control, infuse gastrografin enema through a catheter inserted into the
rectum
To help deconcentrate the inspissated meconium, 1% N- acetylcysteine may be
added to the enema solution. This procedure usually prompts rapid passage of
semiliquid meconium, which continues for 24-48 hours.
17. Meconium Ileus
This gross technique begins by performing a celiotomy with
a muscle-sparing horizontal incision just above the
umbilicus. Upon exploration, a decision is made, based on
the viability and length of the bowel, either to create an
enterotomy for irrigation and evacuation of the meconium or
to resect the segment of impacted intestine.
The author then creates side-by-side separate enterostomies
without creating a common wall. Stomas are placed within
the abdominal incision to the right; these may be covered
with a single ostomy collecting device. Postoperatively, each
stoma may be irrigated to remove residual meconium.
Instillation of dilute enteral feedings high in glutamine, via the
distal stoma, may also be performed to stimulate growth of
the unused distal bowel. Postoperatively instillation of N -
acetylcysteine via a nasogastric tube or an ileostomy helps
solubilize residual meconium.
Intestinal continuity is usually restored within 6 weeks if
bowel function resumes and the infant tolerates oral
feedings.
24. Appendicitis in pediatric population The appendix is less likely to be fixed to mesentery
and has greater mobility. If the omentum is
underdeveloped, note a higher rate of diffuse
peritonitis if perforation occurs (as the omentum
cannot contain purulent material). In children,
presentations are often vague or nonspecific, and
pain localization is challenging. Children with
abdominal pain have especially atypical
manifestations and are at higher risk for perforation
The majority of children with
appendicitis, the outcomes are
excellent after surgery. However, the
rate of perforation is much higher in
children compared to adults. About 1-
3% of children develop an intra-
abdominal abscess and small bowel
obstruction as a result of the
perforation.
26. CAT in AUA in children should consider older age,
larger outer appendiceal diameter and high WBC
counts as risk-factors for recurrent AUA and
subsequent appendectomy. The proposed decision
tree model may help both clinicians and parents
before CAT is chosen.
…Antibiotic regimes were intravenous
ceftriaxone/metronidazole or
amoxicillin/clavulanic acid for 48 h,
followed by oral antibiotics to complete
total 10-days course….
28. Mesenteric cyst
Mesenteric cysts are intra-abdominal masses of congenital origin, which most frequently occur in
children, with an incidence of approximately 1 case per 20,000 pediatric admissions. Its progression
can be asymptomatic, and its diagnosis can be incidental.symptomatic cases generally present with
abdominal distention and few associated symptoms other than vague abdominal pain with or without a
palpable mass. The mass may be huge, simulating ascites. The most common mode of acute
presentation in children is that of a small-bowel obstruction, which may be associated with intestinal
volvulus or infarction
Mesenteric cysts most commonly occur in the small-bowel mesentery on
the mesenteric side of the bowel. They can often be shelled out from
between the leaves of the mesentery with care taken to avoid damage to
the mesenteric vessels, or they may require concomitant bowel
resection in order to ensure that the blood supply to the bowel is not
compromised
Are thought to represent benign proliferations of ectopic lymphatics that
lack communication with the normal lymphatic system.
29. Anorectal malformations
Consist of a wide spectrum of congenital
abnormalities which involve the anus and
rectum. These malformations range from skin
level defects such as rectoperineal fistulas to
complex lesions such as persistent cloaca.
They occur in approximately 1 in 5000 live
births
Gray and Skandalakis classified duodenal atresia in three types
Type I - these have a web formed by mucosa and submucosa with no defect in the muscle coat. A windsock deformity may occur if the web is thin. Base of the membrane is in second part of duodenum. These constitute 92% case.
Type II – duodenal ends are atretic, separated by some distance but attached by a cord. Mesentery is intact. 1%
Type III - duodenal ends are atretic, separated by some distance but without any tissue intervening. Mesentery has a V shaped defect. 7%
done between transversely opened proximal pouch and longitudinally opened distal pouch
The Ladd's procedure is the standard corrective measure for intestinal malrotation in children and consists of division of peritoneal bands (Ladd's bands) traversing the posterior abdomen, reduction of volvulus, appendectomy, and functional postioning of the intestine with or without fixation.
Bloody stools may be a late finding and could be a sign that the affected bowel is not receiving enough blood supply, called ischemia, and subsequent tissue death or necrosis may be occurring.
Air or Contrast Enema
If the intussusception is uncomplicated, then an air or contrast enema can be performed to try to reduce it.
If the first attempt is unsuccessful, then a repeat attempt could potentially be performed in about 30 minutes to 4 hours under certain circumstances.
The patient would need to be stable without signs of peritonitis or any other complications.
Again this should be a joint decision between surgical, radiological, and any other appropriate teams.
A successful second attempt could potentially avoid the need for surgery.
That brings us to the second form of treatment which is surgical intervention.
2. Surgery
Surgery may be necessary if non-operative approaches fail, or if there are complications such as an unstable patient, bowel perforation, peritonitis, or any other contraindications to a non-operative approach.