Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-06

Surgery Aids
Many Babies
And Children
Abdominal Operation
Often Improves Health
BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENINa

BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING
IN A group of people the
= other day, when it was men,
toned that a neighbor's beby
had to undergo an abdominal
operation, some one said:
III didn't know babies and
children ever had such things"
And every one expressed doubt
as to the ability of a baby to
stand such a procedure.
AS a matter of fact, while the
necessity for abdominal opera
tons in children arises much
less frequently than in adults.
they are not at all uncommon
and surgeons believe that young
persons are excellent surgical
subjects, provided the treatment
is conducted by qualified sur
geons, the hospital equipment
is adapted to the needs of the
infant and child, the anaesthetic
is well-chosen and skilfully
administered and that certain
special equipment and instru-
ments that may be necessary
are available.
Even a newborn baby will
tolerate an abdominal operation
of considerable magnitude.
There are several develop
mental conditions that require
surgery Immediately after birth;
for instance, diaphragmatic
hernia or "upsidedown stomach"
and certain forms of intestinal
obstruction.
IN EARLY life. a few weeks
Il after birth, a form of OBJ
struction to the outlet of the
stomach may make itself known.
The infant nurses greedily,
only to vomit all the feeding
within a few minutes.
II allowed to 90 untreated,
these babies lose weight and
present a pitiful appearance Of
emaciation.
In children's hospitals where
large numbers Of the patients
are treated surgically. SO out of
100 are permanently cured by
an operation on the stomach.
The seventh or eighth month
of life is the time when a GER
tain form of intestinal obstruc-
ton is most frequently observed.
This is a telescoping OF the
bowel, or intussusception.
This comes on very suddenly,
with evidences of severe colicky
pain, causing the baby 10
draw his legs up, cry and be-
come pale.
Later. mucous and blood may
be passed in the stool.
The condition Is relatively In
frequent, but operation is the
only known way to save life and
should be done early.
DUPTURES of several types
~ are seen in the young and
operation is indicated as the
only form of treatment in most
cases.
There Is no reason why they
should be allowed to linger on
and no reason why a baby or
child who is otherwise well cam
not be cured surgically at al
most any age.
The end results of operation
for rupture appear TO be better
when performed in early rather
than in adult life.
No discussion Of the subject
of abdominal surgery in child
hood would be complete without
mentioning one of the great
menaces to young life-acute
appendicitis.
In childhood the appendix Is
placed low, is relatively large
and the omentum, which pro-
tects adults. is short.
Nature. in other words, pro-
vides none of the protection TO
children with appendicitis that
it does to adults.
CURGICAL interference must
~ be prompt and efficient in
these cases if life is TO be
spared.
In babies the recognition OF
collie and abdominal pain is
naturally not as easy as In
adults, but in babies as well as
in adults, the use of cathartics
in any acute collie is TO be
avoided except under medical
advice.
Cathartics seldom do any good