Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerations

Background: Abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) is a rare presentation of tuberculosis (TB) in pediatric patients, and its diagnosis can be challenging. This study aimed to analyze the role of surgery in patients with ATB presenting with acute abdomen. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pedi...

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Main Authors: Luciana Cotignola, Aixa Reusmann, Martin Rubio, Enrique Guillermo Paz, Victor Hugo Ayarzabal, Marcelo Eugenio Barrenechea
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Journal of Pediatric Surgery Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949711623000837
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author Luciana Cotignola
Aixa Reusmann
Martin Rubio
Enrique Guillermo Paz
Victor Hugo Ayarzabal
Marcelo Eugenio Barrenechea
author_facet Luciana Cotignola
Aixa Reusmann
Martin Rubio
Enrique Guillermo Paz
Victor Hugo Ayarzabal
Marcelo Eugenio Barrenechea
author_sort Luciana Cotignola
collection DOAJ
description Background: Abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) is a rare presentation of tuberculosis (TB) in pediatric patients, and its diagnosis can be challenging. This study aimed to analyze the role of surgery in patients with ATB presenting with acute abdomen. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients under 18 years of age who underwent surgical intervention for acute abdomen (AA) and were diagnosed with ATB at a tertiary-care center in Latin America between June 2003 and March 2023. The diagnosis was confirmed through histopathology or bacteriological analysis. Demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and operative findings were collected, and surgical procedures and postoperative outcomes were assessed. Results: Fifteen patients were included in the study. Symptoms and signs were nonspecific. Imaging studies revealed ascites, adenopathies, and intestinal wall thickening, among other findings. Histopathological examination with identification of caseating granulomas proved essential for diagnosis. The peritoneal form was the most frequent presentation, followed by the intestinal type. There were no differences between stoma reversal surgery performed during or after treatment. Complications were observed in 73 % of cases, with intestinal perforation being the most common one. Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis of ATB in pediatric patients with acute abdomen is crucial to avoid unnecessary surgeries. Surgery in acute ATB is indicated to manage intestinal complications however surgical management should be approached cautiously. Conservative procedures, such as biopsies and drainage, are recommended when intraoperative findings reveal ATB. Level of evidence: Level III, Retrospective study
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spelling doaj.art-67bc4adacea8498db38b001bb3ea7be82023-12-10T06:19:56ZengElsevierJournal of Pediatric Surgery Open2949-71162023-12-014100086Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerationsLuciana Cotignola0Aixa Reusmann1Martin Rubio2Enrique Guillermo Paz3Victor Hugo Ayarzabal4Marcelo Eugenio Barrenechea5Corresponding author.; Division of General Surgery, J.P. Garrahan Hospital, Combate de los Pozos 1881, C 1245, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDivision of General Surgery, J.P. Garrahan Hospital, Combate de los Pozos 1881, C 1245, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDivision of General Surgery, J.P. Garrahan Hospital, Combate de los Pozos 1881, C 1245, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDivision of General Surgery, J.P. Garrahan Hospital, Combate de los Pozos 1881, C 1245, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDivision of General Surgery, J.P. Garrahan Hospital, Combate de los Pozos 1881, C 1245, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDivision of General Surgery, J.P. Garrahan Hospital, Combate de los Pozos 1881, C 1245, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaBackground: Abdominal tuberculosis (ATB) is a rare presentation of tuberculosis (TB) in pediatric patients, and its diagnosis can be challenging. This study aimed to analyze the role of surgery in patients with ATB presenting with acute abdomen. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients under 18 years of age who underwent surgical intervention for acute abdomen (AA) and were diagnosed with ATB at a tertiary-care center in Latin America between June 2003 and March 2023. The diagnosis was confirmed through histopathology or bacteriological analysis. Demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and operative findings were collected, and surgical procedures and postoperative outcomes were assessed. Results: Fifteen patients were included in the study. Symptoms and signs were nonspecific. Imaging studies revealed ascites, adenopathies, and intestinal wall thickening, among other findings. Histopathological examination with identification of caseating granulomas proved essential for diagnosis. The peritoneal form was the most frequent presentation, followed by the intestinal type. There were no differences between stoma reversal surgery performed during or after treatment. Complications were observed in 73 % of cases, with intestinal perforation being the most common one. Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis of ATB in pediatric patients with acute abdomen is crucial to avoid unnecessary surgeries. Surgery in acute ATB is indicated to manage intestinal complications however surgical management should be approached cautiously. Conservative procedures, such as biopsies and drainage, are recommended when intraoperative findings reveal ATB. Level of evidence: Level III, Retrospective studyhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949711623000837Abdominal tuberculosisAcute abdomenTuberculosis diagnosisAbdominal tuberculosis surgeryComplicationsChildren
spellingShingle Luciana Cotignola
Aixa Reusmann
Martin Rubio
Enrique Guillermo Paz
Victor Hugo Ayarzabal
Marcelo Eugenio Barrenechea
Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerations
Journal of Pediatric Surgery Open
Abdominal tuberculosis
Acute abdomen
Tuberculosis diagnosis
Abdominal tuberculosis surgery
Complications
Children
title Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerations
title_full Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerations
title_fullStr Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerations
title_full_unstemmed Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerations
title_short Tuberculosis: A rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients - surgical considerations
title_sort tuberculosis a rare cause of acute abdomen in pediatric patients surgical considerations
topic Abdominal tuberculosis
Acute abdomen
Tuberculosis diagnosis
Abdominal tuberculosis surgery
Complications
Children
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949711623000837
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AT enriqueguillermopaz tuberculosisararecauseofacuteabdomeninpediatricpatientssurgicalconsiderations
AT victorhugoayarzabal tuberculosisararecauseofacuteabdomeninpediatricpatientssurgicalconsiderations
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