Acute Surgical Abdomen in Childhood

Abstract

In the first few weeks of life, omphalocele, gastrointestinal atresia and stenosis, diaphragmatic hernia, malrotation, meconium ileus and imperforate anus are common causes of acute surgical abdomen. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis usually is not manifested until the child is a few weeks old. Intussusception and strangulated inguinal hernia are seen most often in children less than two years old. In childhood, conditions producing acute surgical abdomen include appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulum, intestinal obstruction, and traumatic injury.