Roentogenologic diagnosis of an acute abdomen in children

An acute abdomen is one of the main topics among emergency practice for children. We have experiencing about 300 acute abdomen cases per year at our Children's Hospital since 1970. We radiological technologists provide a 24-hour emergency service using special knowledge and techniques in our radiological investigation. In the noenatal period esophageal atresia should be diagnosed by plain up-right film with a coiled-up rubber tube, and a contrast examination is contraindicated to prevent severe aspiration pneumonia. In the cases with intestinal atresia, the contrast examination is not necessary again, because the findings of plain film such as the distribution of air-filled intestinal loops, dilated bowel with air-fluid level gives us enough information for the diagnosis of these congenital anomalies. On the contrary, barium enema is useful and harmless for the neonatal age group. It is practical for diagnosing Hirschsprung's disease, midgut malrotation with volvulus, ileal and colonic atresia and necrotizing enterocolitis. An imperforate anus should be classified into the high and low type in the neonatal period to define the treatment. Invertogram is an only way for the differentiation of a baby without external fistula, and we have established the technique for this. The level is diagnosed by the relationship between the gas-filled rectal pouch and ischiac bone. In the infant group intussusception is the most common and urgent acute abdomen. We use a special device to fix the bady, dilute the barium with warm saline (to avoid water intoxication), limit the water pressure to within one meter, and avoid abdominal manipulation and longtime exposure. The successful reduction rate that our team has obtained is almost 85 %. (author)