[Postoperative obstructive abdominal complications in children].

In the pediatric surgical Department of the "Le Fe" Hospital, from January 1971 to December 1982 2,350 laparotomies were performed in neonates, infants and children. In 67 patients abdominal surgery was complicated by bowel obstruction for which a second laparotomy had to be performed. In 86.56%, of patients with obstruction (58 cases) this became obvious during the first three months after the previous operation. In 54 out of the 67 patients reviewed (80.59%), adhesions were the cause for obstruction and only twelve was this caused by an abscess.