Features of early postoperative period in children with gastrointestinal syndrome against the background of COVID-19

Objective. To study the features of the development and course of gastrointestinal syndrome against the background of COVID-19 in preschool-aged children hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Department with acute abdominal pain. Patients and methods. The study was performed on the basis of the Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Anesthesiology and Resuscitation at Smolensk Regional Clinical Hospital between September 1, 2021, and December 30, 2021. Using continuous sampling, we analyzed clinical data of 29 children aged 4 to 7 years with acute abdominal pain against the background of COVID-19. The course of COVID-19 in children who were discharged from the Pediatric Surgery Department after exclusion of acute surgical pathology was studied in dynamics. Results. The disease manifested itself as an acute diffuse abdominal pain and hyperthermia in 100% of children; 65% of children had vomiting, and 56.25% of them had diarrhea. Seven (24%) children required diagnostic laparoscopy, of whom 5 children had no surgical pathology and 2 were diagnosed with adhesions. Laparoscopy revealed mesadenitis in all patients. Conclusion. Acute surgical pathology and gastrointestinal syndrome against the background of COVID-19 have similar manifestations during the acute period in children. Surgical interventions performed against the background of COVID-19 in the acute period provoke complications and prolong the recovery period. Key words: children, COVID-19, gastrointestinal syndrome, acute surgical pathology in children