Related Experiment Videos
Chylous peritonitis in children: case report and literature review
G W Holcomb1, A Gheissari, N A Shorter
1Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Insights
Acute chylous peritonitis is rare in children, with only seven cases previously reported. This study presents an additional case in a 7-year-old, highlighting the need for awareness and review of this surgical condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Acute chylous peritonitis is a rare surgical emergency.
- Literature review indicates a low incidence in pediatric populations.
Observation:
- A 7-year-old child presented with symptoms of acute peritoneal irritation.
- Laparotomy revealed the presence of chyle within the peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum.
Findings:
- This case represents an addition to the limited documented instances of pediatric acute chylous peritonitis.
- The patient's presentation and intraoperative findings are consistent with this rare diagnosis.
Implications:
- Highlights the rarity and diagnostic challenge of acute chylous peritonitis in children.
- Underscores the importance of considering this entity in pediatric patients with acute abdominal symptoms.
- Emphasizes the need for a comprehensive review of proposed etiologies and management strategies for this condition.
Abstract:
Sixty-one cases of acute chylous peritonitis have been reported in all age groups in the surgical literature. Only seven of these cases have been noted in children. We report an additional case of a 7-year-old child who presented with acute peritoneal irritation and, at laparotomy, was found to have chyle in the peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum. Proposed etiologies and management of this surgical entity are reviewed.