ABSTRACT

Premature and term neonates differ in their anatomy, physiology, neurology, psychology, pathology and pharmacology, just as infants differ from school-age children and adolescents from adults. These differences underpin the principles of paediatric surgery. As you progress through this chapter and consider children of different ages (Table 9.1) you should make your own list of differences and their clinical implications; a few examples appear in Table 9.2 and in Figure 9.1 to get you started.