ABS Pediatric Surgery key terms

A developmental defect in the diaphragm that allows abdominal organs to enter the chest, causing pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns.

A prenatal lung lesion characterized by abnormal cystic airway tissue that may cause fetal hydrops or respiratory distress after birth; some lesions regress before delivery.

A prenatal procedure that temporarily blocks the fetal trachea with a balloon to promote lung growth in severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia; the balloon is removed before delivery.

A germ cell tumor arising at the coccyx that can grow large in fetuses, causing high-output heart failure or hydrops; treatment is surgical resection, often soon after birth.

A full-thickness abdominal wall defect, usually right of the umbilicus, through which bowel eviscerates without a covering membrane; exposed bowel requires protection and staged or primary reduction.

A midline abdominal wall defect in which abdominal organs herniate into the umbilical cord and are covered by a sac; associated anomalies and chromosomal abnormalities are common.

An inflammatory bowel disease of premature infants that can progress to intestinal necrosis and perforation; treatment includes bowel rest, antibiotics, and surgery for perforation or deterioration.

A condition in young infants caused by thickening of the pyloric muscle, leading to nonbilious projectile vomiting and a palpable olive; treatment is pyloromyotomy after correcting dehydration and alkalosis.

An abnormal intestinal rotation that narrows the mesenteric base and allows the midgut to twist, causing bilious vomiting and risk of bowel ischemia; urgent surgery is required.

A congenital blockage of the duodenum that presents with bilious vomiting and a double-bubble sign on abdominal radiograph; it is often associated with Down syndrome and requires surgical repair.

A progressive obstruction of the extrahepatic bile ducts in infancy that causes cholestatic jaundice and liver fibrosis; Kasai portoenterostomy is the initial surgical treatment.

A congenital dilation of the extrahepatic or intrahepatic biliary tree that can cause abdominal pain, jaundice, and pancreatitis; excision with biliary reconstruction is recommended to prevent malignancy.

A condition in which one segment of intestine telescopes into an adjacent segment, causing colicky pain, vomiting, and bloody stools; air or contrast enema is often diagnostic and therapeutic.

A remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct on the antimesenteric ileum that may contain ectopic gastric mucosa and cause painless rectal bleeding; symptomatic lesions are treated by resection.

A congenital absence of ganglion cells in the distal bowel that causes functional obstruction and severe constipation in neonates; treatment is surgical resection of the aganglionic segment with pull-through.

A malabsorptive state following extensive intestinal resection, leading to diarrhea, dehydration, and dependence on parenteral nutrition; management includes intestinal rehabilitation and sometimes lengthening procedures.

A tumor arising from sympathetic neural crest cells, often in the adrenal medulla, with variable behavior from spontaneous regression to aggressive metastasis; risk stratification guides surgery and chemotherapy.

A pediatric kidney cancer derived from nephrogenic rests that typically presents as an abdominal mass; treatment combines nephrectomy with chemotherapy and sometimes radiation.

The most common primary liver cancer in young children, often associated with elevated alpha-fetoprotein; treatment usually includes chemotherapy and surgical resection, sometimes liver transplantation.

A soft tissue sarcoma showing skeletal muscle differentiation that can arise in the head and neck, genitourinary tract, or extremities; treatment combines chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.

Injury caused intentionally by a caregiver, often presenting with inconsistent history, patterned bruises, fractures of varying ages, or head trauma; recognition requires careful evaluation and reporting.

A bedside ultrasound examination of the pericardium and dependent abdominal spaces to detect free fluid after trauma; it guides urgent decisions but is less sensitive for solid organ injury.

Observation and supportive care for hemodynamically stable children with liver or spleen injury, avoiding laparotomy; it relies on serial examination, monitoring, and transfusion when needed.

Sustained elevated intra-abdominal pressure that impairs organ perfusion, causing respiratory, renal, and cardiovascular dysfunction; treatment includes decompression, often by opening the abdomen.

A staged surgical approach for severely injured or unstable patients in which hemorrhage and contamination are controlled quickly and the abdomen is temporarily closed for later definitive repair.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation provides prolonged cardiopulmonary support by circulating blood through an oxygenator; in children it is used for severe respiratory or cardiac failure unresponsive to conventional therapy.

A congenital discontinuity of the esophagus, usually with a distal fistula to the trachea, causing feeding difficulty, choking, and aspiration; surgical repair is required.

A chest wall deformity with posterior depression of the sternum and costal cartilages that may impair cardiopulmonary function; repair is considered for symptoms or severe cosmetic concerns.

Accumulation of lymphatic fluid in the pleural space, often after thoracic surgery or from congenital lymphatic abnormalities; treatment includes drainage and dietary or surgical measures to reduce chyle flow.

A congenital condition in which the urethral opening is on the ventral penis, often with chordee and a hooded foreskin; surgical repair is usually performed in infancy.

Failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum, increasing risk of infertility and malignancy; orchidopexy is recommended, often within the first year of life.

Obstructing membranous folds in the male posterior urethra that cause bilateral hydronephrosis and bladder dysfunction; early catheter drainage and endoscopic valve ablation are key treatments.

A spectrum of congenital defects in which the anus and rectum are improperly developed, often with a fistula to the urinary or genital tract; staged surgical reconstruction is usually required.

Twisting of the spermatic cord that cuts off blood flow to the testis, causing acute scrotal pain; emergency detorsion and fixation are needed to salvage the testis.

A midline neck mass arising from persistent remnants of the thyroglossal duct; treatment is Sistrunk procedure, which removes the cyst and central hyoid bone to prevent recurrence.

A lateral neck mass from incomplete obliteration of a branchial cleft, often presenting as a painless swelling; complete surgical excision is performed to prevent recurrent infection.

A congenital lymphatic malformation, commonly in the neck or axilla, that appears as a soft cystic mass; treatment options include observation, sclerotherapy, and surgical excision.