The Pediatric Surgery Course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge of the most common surgical conditions affecting children, covering all life stages from before birth through adolescence and beyond. For neonates, the primary focus will be on congenital malformations, such as esophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and congenital intestinal obstruction. For children, attention will be directed towards specific acute conditions, including acute abdomen, acute scrotum, and pleural empyema. For all these conditions, emphasis will be placed on the diagnostic pathway—how to suspect and confirm a specific diagnosis—rather than on the surgical techniques used for treatment. Lessons will therefore be structured around the symptoms and signs presented by the suffering child, rather than a classical taxonomic approach
Course Prerequisites
"Understanding the topics covered in Pediatric Surgery instruction requires the student to have a basic knowledge of general and surgical pathology, as well as of anatomy and physiology."
Teaching Methods
**Lectures** In-person teaching, potentially supplemented with online platforms. The approach to the "surgical child" will also be addressed during the internship at the Pediatric Surgery Unit.
Assessment Methods
=**Oral Examination** The exam will be conducted in person, potentially supplemented with a written test featuring multiple-choice questions. Since this topic is part of a multidisciplinary module, the final score (out of thirty) will be calculated as a weighted average of the grades obtained in each module. Exam questions will cover the previously listed topics. Students may also be asked to discuss a clinical case to evaluate their understanding of the correct diagnostic-therapeutic approach and differential
Texts
Chirurgia Pediatrica, a cura di G.B.Parigi, Masson Ed, Milano 2005 “Chirurgia Pediatrica”, M. Lima – G. Ruggeri Ed.,
Contents
1) ACUTE ABDOMEN IN PEDIATRIC SURGERY** Intussusception, acute appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulum and its complications, volvulus, ovarian torsion, tubal torsion, pleural empyema. 2) **ACUTE SCROTUM** Testicular torsion, torsion of testicular appendages, epididymal torsion, testicular trauma, epididymitis, and epididymo-orchitis. 3) **CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS** Congenital diaphragmatic hernia; gastrointestinal atresias, from esophagus to rectum; Hirschsprung’s disease; intestinal malrotation. 4) **COMMON PROCEDURES IN PEDIATRIC SURGERY** Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, congenital inguinal hernia, hydrocele, cryptorchidism, varicocele, phimosis, and
