title: Duodenal perforation: an interesting case report.
abstract: We describe a young child presenting with vomiting and altered neurological status. An incidental finding of pneumoperitoneum on abdominal X-ray led to laparotomy and the discovery of a duodenal perforation. We describe the difficulties in making the diagnosis of duodenal perforation in children and some of the factors that led to the delay in diagnosis in this case.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, St Vincents Hospital, PO Box 2900, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia. kjd55@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kirsten J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Donald
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shun
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004386:Duodenum / Q000293:injuries*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D008646:Mesocolon / Q000293:injuries; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D012202:Reye Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications