TY - JOUR T1 - SUrgical aspects of acute abdominal disease in infancy and. in childhood AU - McLAUGHLIN CW, Jr., DAVIS HH Y1 - 1939/12/01 N1 - 10.1001/archsurg.1939.01200180002001 JO - Archives of Surgery SP - 901 EP - 925 VL - 39 IS - 6 N2 - Few medical problems offer greater difficulties than early, accurate diagnosis and correct treatment of the acute abdominal diseases of infants and children. Because of the treacherous behavior of these diseases, the general surgeon who observes relatively few of the children suffering from them is at especial disadvantage. The purpose of this paper is to present our surgical experience with a series of patients varying in age from birth to 12 years, together with a review of the recent literature.It has generally been recognized that surgical treatment of infants and children must differ greatly from surgical treatment of adults. In patients under the age of 12 years the unstable metabolism influences markedly the reaction to acute peritoneal lesions. Requirements of food and fluid are more constant in children than in adults because of growth and its demands on the tissues; temporary interruption of these supplies is detrimental and may in SN - 0272-5533 M3 - doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1939.01200180002001 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1939.01200180002001 ER -