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Management of the acute abdomen in children with leukemia
Author(s) -
Exelby Philip R.,
Ghandchi Amir,
Lansigan Nicolas,
Schwartz Ira
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197503)35:3<826::aid-cncr2820350339>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - medicine , acute abdomen , abdomen , acute leukemia , leukemia , autopsy , chemotherapy , surgery , complication , complete remission , pediatrics , disease , el niño
With the increase in remission and survival in children with acute leukemia, the complication of acute abdomen has become increasingly important in the total care of these children. A total of 286 children with acute leukemia was treated at Memorial Hospital between 1966 and 1971. Sixteen or 5.6% of these children developed an acute abdomen during the course of their disease. During the same period, many other children developed symptoms and signs mimicking an acute abdomen. Of the 9 children treated surgically, 5 were long‐term survivors. Two children treated conservatively died, and 5 patients were diagnosed at autopsy. Prognosis was better in those patients in remission at the time of surgery, and where remission was maintained by immediately restarting antileukemic chemotherapy. A more aggressive surgical approach to the acute abdomen, combined with careful supportive measures, is further adding to the numbers of long‐term survivors in childhood leukemia.