Date of Award
12-1949
Degree Type
Master's Essay - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Medical
Abstract
The problems which are posed, by the various forms of intestinal obstruction which occur in infancy and childhood, represent a challenge to the surgeon. Until very recent years the mortality rates recorded in the literature have been prohibitive. The advent of rational preoperative and postoperative supportive therapy and of chemotherapeutic and antibiotic agents has effected a very marked reduction in these mortality rates. Search of the medical literature failed to reveal any comprehensive review of all types of intestinal obstruction, either intrinsic or extrinsic, which are now well established as clinical entities occurring in infancy and childhood. A review of all cases of intestinal obstruction on record at the Milwaukee Children's Hospital is therefore presented. The surgical management and mortality and morbidity rates are analyzed so that past errors may be avoided and future treatment attended by lowered incidence of mortality and morbidity. The records have been grouped according to the location of the pathology in the intestinal tract, and according to the type of obstruction presented. A table summarizing the number of cases, sex, and age incidence, average preoperative and postoperative temperatures, blood counts, duration of symptoms prior to definite treatment and morbidity and mortality rates is given with each group.
Recommended Citation
Thatcher, Donald S., "Intestinal Obstruction in Infancy and Childhood (A Statistical Review of 296 Cases)" (1949). Master's Essays (1922 - ). 2505.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/essays/2505
Comments
A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Surgery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.