[Pleuropulmonary surgical complications in children with abdominal surgical diseases].

In a series of 4350 children with abdominal surgical diseases operated at the Department of Pediatric Surgery in Sofia for a period of 3 years (1987-1989) the authors have observed 4 cases of pleuropulmonary complications (0.09 per cent). In two of these children the primary abdominal operation was for liver echinococcus, in 1--rupture of the liver and subphrenic abscess and in 1--perforative appendicitis and purulent peritonitis. Symptoms of respiratory failure developed in addition to the abdominal symptoms. Leading in the complex treatment was sanation of the abdominal cavity from the purulent process and double pleural drainage. The severe pathologic changes in the organs of the two adjacent cavities were responsible for the high case fatality rate (25 per cent).