Non surgical causes of acute abdomen in children: Surgeons standpoint for exclusion

Abstract

Background: There are many surgical and non surgical causes of acute abdomen in children. When children present with non surgical causes of acute abdomen surgical opinion is often sought for exclusion. The aim of this study is to find out non surgical causes of acute abdomen and to make an algorithm to make a methodology for excluding surgical abdomen.

Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in departments of pediatrics and surgery in Aero hospital from January 2021 to November 2022. One hundred children up to 12 years of age with acute non surgical abdomen who were referred for surgical opinion were included in the study. These children were treated medically and followed up till recovery.

Results: Gastroenteritis was found to be the most important cause of non surgical acute abdomen and found in 23% children followed by 18% mesenteric lymphadenitis, nonspecific abdominal pain 12%, UTI 7%, worm infestation 7%, enteric ileitis 06%, Covid 05%, hepatitis 05%, constipation 04%, dengue 4%, ruptured ovarian follicle 3%, renal calculi 2%, Henoch schonlein purpura 2% and gastritis 2%. 25 children from pediatric ward, 32 from pediatric Outpatient department, and 22 from emergency department were referred for surgical opinion and 21 children directly reported to surgical opd.

Conclusion: There are many non surgical causes of acute abdomen in children and must be carefully ruled out to avoid unnecessary surgeries.

Key words: Non surgical, acute abdomen, children.