Abdominal surgical emergencies in infants and young children.

Surgical emergencies can be missed easily in children, who are not always able to volunteer relevant information. Awareness of the entities discussed in this review might help the EP uncover subtle clues to early diagnoses that might not be initially apparent. Ill-appearing children who have abdominal pain and vomiting should be considered to have ischemic or necrotic bowel until proven otherwise. Possible diagnoses include volvulus, intussusception, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Bilious vomiting, especially in a young infant, should be considered to be an indication of a high bowel obstruction such as midgut volvulus, which warrants immediate surgical consultation. Significant rectal bleeding with abdominal pain can result from intussusception, volvulus, or an inflamed Meckel's diverticulum. Rectal bleeding with unstable vital signs can result from an upper GI bleed (eg, peptic ulcer disease). Painless rectal bleeding can result from a Meckel's diverticulum, polyps, arteriovenous malformation, or a tumor. Examination of the genitalia is imperative, especially in boys, to exclude the possibility of an incarcerated hernia or testicular torsion.