ABSTRACT
The end point of abdominal pain can be a surgical procedure, such as appendicectomy. Such procedures are outwith the remit of this book, but paediatricians are involved in the pre-and post-operative care of children, especially in district general hospitals where it is unusual to have dedicated paediatric surgeons. Most surgeons who operate on children are trained both in adult and paediatric surgery, but predominantly undertake surgery in adults, doing one or two lists a week only on children. Thus the perioperative care, especially fluid management, is best left to paediatricians.
