Laparoscopic appendectomy is safe and efficacious for the elderly: an analysis using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database

Age is associated with increased morbidity after laparoscopic appendectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic appendectomy is one of the most common emergency general surgery procedures in the United States. Little is known about its postoperative outcomes for older adults because appendicitis typically occurs in younger patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between age and postoperative complications after appendectomy. We hypothesized that age would have a significant and nonlinear association with morbidity.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of individuals whose laparoscopic appendectomies were recorded in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program (from 2000-2018; n = 14,619) and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2005-2019; n = 349,909) databases. The primary outcome was 30-day morbidity. We used logistic regression with fractional polynomials to model nonlinear relationships between age and outcomes.

RESULTS

The median age (interquartile range) of the nonveteran cohort was 36 years (26-51; 8.4% of patients were 65 or older) versus 51 years among veterans (35-63; 21% were 65 or older). For veterans and nonveterans, there was a significant and nonlinear relationship between age and risk of complications. In the nonveteran cohort, the predicted probability (with 95% confidence interval) of postoperative complications was 9.8% (9.7-10.1) at age 65, 11.9% (11.7-12.3) at age 75, and 14.5% (14.1-14.9) at age 85. Among veterans, the risk was 7.5% (6.9-8.1) at age 65, 8.3% (7.6-9.1) at age 75, and 9.1% (8.1-10.1) at age 85.

CONCLUSION

For both veterans and nonveterans, older age was associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative complications. Notably, morbidity within the VA was lower for older adults than in non-VA hospitals.

Mortality Following Appendicectomy in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

With the global prevalence of liver cirrhosis rising, this systematic review aimed to define the perioperative risk of mortality in these patients following appendicectomy.

Methods

Systematic searches of Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library databases, ICTRP, and Clinical trials.gov were undertaken to identify studies including patients with cirrhosis undergoing appendicectomy, published since database inception to March 2021. Studies had to report mortality. Two review authors independently identified eligible studies and extracted data. Pooled analysis of in-patient and 30-day mortality was performed.

Results

Of the 948 studies identified, four were included and this comprised three nationwide database studies (USA and Denmark) and one multi-centre observational study (Japan). A total of 923 patients had cirrhosis and 167,211 patients did not. In-patient mortality ranged from 0 to 1.7% in patients with cirrhosis and 0.17 to 0.3% in patients without. 30-day mortality was 9% in patients with cirrhosis compared to 0.3% in those without. One study stratified cirrhotic patients into compensated and decompensated groups. In patients with compensated cirrhosis, mortality following laparoscopic appendicectomy (0.5%) was significantly lower than open appendicectomy (3.2%). The meta-analysis highlighted a tenfold increase in perioperative mortality in cirrhotic patients (OR 9.92 (95% CI 4.67 to 21.06, I2 = 28%). All studies reported an increased length of stay in patients with cirrhosis.

Conclusion

This review suggests that appendicectomy in the cirrhotic population is associated with increased mortality. LA may be safer in this population. Lack of information on cirrhosis severity and failure to control for age and co-morbidities make the results difficult to interpret. Further large population-based studies are required.

Risk factors for postoperative morbidity following appendectomy in the elderly: a nationwide prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

A limited number of studies investigating perioperative risk factors associated with emergency appendectomy in elderly patients have been published to date. Whether older age may be associated with poorer outcomes following appendectomy is still a matter of debate. The primary aim of this study was to determine the predictors of postoperative morbidity following appendectomy in patients aged ≥ 65 years.

METHODS

Data regarding all elderly patients who underwent emergency appendectomy from January 2017 to June 2018 admitted 36 Italian surgical departments were prospectively collected and analyzed. Baseline demographics and perioperative variables were evaluated. Uni- and multivariate analyses adjusted for differences between groups were carried out to determine possible predictors of adverse outcomes after appendectomy.

RESULTS

Between January 2017 and June 2018, 135 patients aged ≥ 65 years with a diagnosis of AA met the study inclusion criteria. Twenty-six patients (19.3%) were diagnosed with some type of postoperative complication. Decreasing the preoperative hemoglobin level showed a statistically significant association with postoperative complications (OR 0.77, CI 0.61-0.97, P = 0.03). Preoperative creatinine level (P = 0.02, OR 2.04, CI 1.12-3.72), and open appendectomy (P = 0.03, OR 2.67, CI 1.11-6.38) were significantly associated with postoperative morbidity. After adjustment, the only independent predictor of postoperative morbidity was preoperative creatinine level (P = 0.04, OR 2.01, CI 1.05-3.89).

CONCLUSIONS

In elderly patients with AA, perioperative risk assessment in the emergency setting must be as accurate as possible to identify modifiable risk factors that can be addressed before surgery, such as preoperative hemoglobin and creatinine levels.

Acute Appendicitis in Childhood and Adulthood

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of the acute abdomen, with an incidence of 1 per 1000 persons per year. It is one of the main differential diagnoses of unclear abdominal conditions.

METHODS

This review is based on pertinent publications that were retrieved by a selective search in the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases.

RESULTS

In addition to the medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasonography should be performed to establish the diagnosis (and sometimes computed tomography [CT] or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], if ultrasonography is insufficient). Before any treatment is provided, appendicitis is classified as either uncomplicated or complicated. In both types of appendicitis, the decision to treat surgically or conservatively must be based on the overall clinical picture and the patient's risk factors. Appendectomy is the treatment of choice for acute appendicitis in all age groups. In Germany, appendectomy is mainly performed laparoscopically in patients with low morbidity. Uncomplicated appendicitis can, alternatively, be treated conservatively under certain circumstances. A meta-analysis of five randomized, controlled trials has revealed that ca. 37% of adult patients treated conservatively undergo appendectomy within one year. Complicated appendicitis is a serious disease; it can also potentially be treated conservatively (with antibiotics, with or without placement of a drain) as an alternative to surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION

Conservative treatment is being performed more frequently, but the current state of the evidence does not justify a change of the standard therapy from surgery to conservative treatment.

Laparoscopy versus open appendectomy for elderly patients, a meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Appendicitis in elderly patients is associated with increased risk of postoperative complications. The choice between laparoscopy and open appendectomy remains controversial in treating elderly patients with appendicitis.

METHODS

Comprehensive search of literature of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials was done in January 2019. Studies compared laparoscopy and open appendectomy for elderly patients with appendicitis were screened and selected. Postoperative mortality, complications, wound infection, intra-abdominal abscess and operating time, length of hospital stay were extracted and analyzed. The Review Manage 5.3 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Twelve studies with 126,237 patients in laparoscopy group and 213,201 patients in open group. Postoperative mortality was significantly lower following laparoscopy (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.39). Postoperative complication and wound infection were reduced following laparoscopy ((OR, 0.65 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.67; OR,0.27, 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.32). Intra-abdominal abscess was similar between LA and OA (OR,0.44;95% CI, 0.19 to 1.03). Duration of surgery was longer following laparoscopy and length of hospital stay was shorter following laparoscopy (MD, 7.25, 95% CI, 3.13 to 11.36; MD,-2.72, 95% CI,-3.31 to - 2.13).

CONCLUSIONS

Not only laparoscopy is safe and feasible, but also it is related with decreased rates of mortality, post-operative morbidity and shorter hospitalization.

The significant impact of age on the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy: Results from the Polish Laparoscopic Appendectomy multicenter large cohort study

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical emergency and can occur at any age. Nearly all of the studies comparing outcomes of appendectomy between younger and older patients set cut-off point at 65 years. In this multicenter observational study, we aimed to compare laparoscopic appendectomy for AA in various groups of patients with particular interest in the elderly and very elderly in comparison to younger adults.Our multicenter observational study of 18 surgical units assessed the outcomes of 4618 laparoscopic appendectomies for AA. Patients were divided in 4 groups according to their age: Group 1-<40 years old; Group 2-between 40 and 64 years old; Group 3-between 65 and 74 years old; and Group 4-75 years old or older. Groups were compared in terms of peri- and postoperative outcomes.The ratio of complicated appendicitis grew with age (20.97% vs 37.50% vs 43.97% vs 56.84%, P < .001). Similarly, elderly patients more frequently suffered from perioperative complications (5.06% vs 9.3% vs 10.88% vs 13.68%, P < .001) and had the longest median length of stay (3 [Interquartile Range (IQR) 2-4] vs 3 [IQR 3-5], vs 4 [IQR 3-5], vs 5 [IQR 3-6], P < .001) as well as the rate of patients with prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS) >8 days. Logistic regression models comparing perioperative results of each of the 3 oldest groups compared with the youngest one showed significant differences in odds ratios of symptoms lasting >48 hours, presence of complicated appendicitis, perioperative morbidity, conversion rate, prolonged LOS (>8 days).The findings of this study confirm that the outcomes of laparoscopic approach to AA in different age groups are not the same regarding outcomes and the clinical picture. Older patients are at high risk both in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative period. The differences are visible already at the age of 40 years old. Since delayed diagnosis and postponed surgery result in the development of complicated appendicitis, more effort should be placed in improving treatment patterns for the elderly and their clinical outcome.

Diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis. EAES consensus development conference 2015

Unequivocal international guidelines regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with acute appendicitis are lacking. The aim of the consensus meeting 2015 of the EAES was to generate a European guideline based on best available evidence and expert opinions of a panel of EAES members. After a systematic review of the literature by an international group of surgical research fellows, an expert panel with extensive clinical experience in the management of appendicitis discussed statements and recommendations. Statements and recommendations with more than 70 % agreement by the experts were selected for a web survey and the consensus meeting of the EAES in Bucharest in June 2015. EAES members and attendees at the EAES meeting in Bucharest could vote on these statements and recommendations. In the case of more than 70 % agreement, the statement or recommendation was defined as supported by the scientific community. Results from both the web survey and the consensus meeting in Bucharest are presented as percentages. In total, 46 statements and recommendations were selected for the web survey and consensus meeting. More than 232 members and attendees voted on them. In 41 of 46 statements and recommendations, more than 70 % agreement was reached. All 46 statements and recommendations are presented in this paper. They comprise topics regarding the diagnostic work-up, treatment indications, procedural aspects and post-operative care. The consensus meeting produced 46 statements and recommendations on the diagnostic work-up and management of appendicitis. The majority of the EAES members supported these statements. These consensus proceedings provide additional guidance to surgeons and surgical residents providing care to patients with appendicitis.

Treatment of Acute Appendicitis in Geriatric Patients - Literature Review

Demographic changes associated with the aging population mean that surgeons increasingly have contact and make decisions about treating patients from the oldest age groups. The aim of the study was to review the literature concerning the treatment of acute appendicitis in patients over the age of 60 years old.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A review of the literature published in the years 2000-2015 has been carried out using the PubMed database. The initial number of results corresponding to the query in English, "appendicitis (MeSH) AND elderly (MeSH)" was 260. Selection based on the titles, abstracts, and eventually whole articles, ultimately resulted in 11 papers concerning the treatment of appendicitis in patients above 60 years of age.

RESULTS

Nine papers were retrospective and 2 were prospective. In total, the studies included 82,852 patients. Laparoscopic appendectomy was associated with a lower mortality rate, a smaller number of postoperative complications and a shorter length of hospital stay, which led to it being recommended by most authors. Four of the ten papers demonstrated that the patients who were qualified for laparoscopic surgery had less comorbidity and were in a lower ASA (American Society of Anaesthesiology) category. Antibiotic therapy as an independent method was assessed in one study in a group of elderly people, on a selected group of 26 patients, and its effectiveness was shown to be 70%. Most studies, however, are highly heterogeneous which significantly hindered comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, laparoscopic appendectomy seems to be the treatment of choice in the elderly with acute appendicitis. Antibiotic therapy, as an independent method of treatment of acute appendicitis, cannot currently be recommended. However, further, prospective, and better-designed studies are needed, involving a larger number of patients, and primarily dedicated to the elderly.

Laparoscopic appendectomy is safer than open appendectomy in an elderly population

Background and Objectives:

This study describes perioperative patient safety outcomes comparing laparoscopic appendectomy with open appendectomy in the elderly population (defined as age ≥65 years) during the diffusion of laparoscopic appendectomy into widespread clinical practice.

Methods:

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of patients undergoing open or laparoscopic appendectomy in the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample, a 20% sample of inpatient discharges from 1056 hospitals, from 1998 to 2009, and used weighted sampling to estimate national trends. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to examine the association of laparoscopy with perioperative outcomes.

Results:

Patients who met the inclusion criteria totaled 257 484. Of these, 87 209 (34%) underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. These patients were younger (P < .001); had lower Charlson comorbidity scores (P < .001); were more likely to be white (P < .001), to be privately insured (P = .005), and to undergo surgery in urban hospitals (P < .001); and were less likely to have appendiceal rupture (P < .001). Laparoscopic appendectomy was associated with a decreased length of stay (4.44 days vs 7.86 days, P < .001), fewer total patient safety indicator events (1.8% vs 3.5%, P < .001), and a decreased mortality rate (0.9% vs 2.8%, P < .001). On multivariate analyses, we observed a 32% (odds ratio, 0.68) decreased probability of patient safety events occurring in laparoscopic appendectomy cases versus open appendectomy cases as measured by patient safety indicators.

Conclusion:

The data suggest that laparoscopic appendectomy is associated with improved clinical outcomes in the elderly and that diffusion of laparoscopic appendectomy is not associated with adverse patient safety events in this population.

Do elderly patients have the most to gain from laparoscopic surgery?

Populations are aging worldwide, people are living longer, and the surgical needs of elderly patients are rising. Laparoscopic techniques have become more common with improved training, surgeon skill and evidence of improved outcomes. Benefits of laparoscopy include decreased blood loss, postoperative pain, and hospital length of stay; improved mobilization, quicker return to normal activity; and fewer pulmonary, thrombotic, and abdominal wall complications. Indeed, for many common pathologies laparoscopy has become the gold standard, unless contraindicated. It has been questioned as to whether elderly patients can reap the same benefits from laparoscopic surgery. The concern in elderly patients is that physiologic demands may outweigh the benefit seen in younger patients. This question stems from concerns related to longer operative times, increased technical challenge, as well as the impact of physiologic demands of pneumoperitoneum and patient positioning. However, with anesthesia and adequate perioperative cardiac care, there is no evidence that these factors lead to worse clinical outcomes in elderly patients. In contrast, perhaps elderly patients - with increased prevalence of multi-morbidity, geriatric syndromes and diminished physiologic reserve - have the most to gain from a laparoscopic approach.

Acute appendicitis in the elderly in the twenty-first century

BACKGROUND

The incidence of appendicitis in the elderly has risen. Older age is an independent predictor of poor surgical outcome. Herein, we present the most comprehensive single institution study to describe the natural history and outcome of appendicitis in elderly patients.

METHODS

A review of 1898 consecutive patients who underwent appendectomy between 2004 and 2007 was performed. The elderly patients were defined as older than 68 years.

RESULTS

The median age of the entire cohort was 25 years, and 55% were males. The elderly group included 68 patients (3.6%). On comparison by age, the elderly group had a significantly longer delay from symptom onset to admission (50 vs. 31 h, P = 0.01) and from admission to surgery, a longer operative time and hospital stay, and higher rates of postoperative complications and complicated appendicitis.

CONCLUSION

The current study demonstrated several unique characteristics of the elderly population with acute appendicitis, which include poor outcome and longer time intervals to diagnosis and treatment. In order to improve the poor outcome of the elderly population with appendicitis, prospective trials are necessary.

Acute appendicitis: position paper, WSES, 2013

Appendectomy is one of the most frequently performed operative procedures in general surgery departments of every size and category. Laparoscopic Appendectomy – LA - as compared to Open Appendectomy – OA - was very controversial at first but has found increasing acceptance all over the World, although the percentage of its acceptance is different in the various single National setting. Various meta-analyses and Cochrane reviews have compared LA with OA and different technical details. Furthermore, new surgical methods have recently emerged, namely, the single-port/incision laparoscopic appendectomy and NOTES technique. Their distribution among the hospitals, however, is unclear. Using laparoscopic mini-instruments with trocars of 2–3.5 mm diameter is proposed as a reliable alternative due to less postoperative pain and improved aesthetics. How to proceed in case of an inconspicuous appendix during a procedure planned as an appendectomy remains controversial despite existing study results. But the main question still is: operate or not operate an acute appendicitis, in the meaning of an attempt of a conservative antibiotic therapy. Therefore, we have done a literature survey on the performance of appendectomies and their technical details as well as the management of the intraoperative finding of an inconspicuous appendix in order to write down – under the light of the latest evidence – a position paper.

Outcomes associated with resident involvement in partial colectomy

BACKGROUND

Surgical cases that include trainees are associated with worse outcomes in comparison with those that include attending surgeons alone.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify whether resident involvement in partial colectomy was associated with worse outcomes when evaluated by surgical approach and resident experience.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective study using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

SETTINGS

This study evaluates cases included in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

PATIENTS

All patients were included who underwent partial colectomy including both open and laparoscopic approaches.

INTERVENTIONS

Residents were involved.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measures were the association of resident involvement and major complication events, minor complication events, unplanned return to operating room, and operative time.

RESULTS

Cases with residents were associated with major complications (OR 1.18, CI 1.09-1.27, p < 0.001) on multivariate analysis. However, after including operative time in the model only open cases involving fifth year residents were still associated with major complications (OR 1.13, p = 0.037). Resident involvement was associated with increased likelihood of minor complications (OR 1.3, p < 0.001) and an increased risk of unplanned return to the operating room (OR 1.20, p < 0.001). Operative time was longer for cases with residents on average by 33.7 minutes and 27 minutes for open and laparoscopic cases.

LIMITATIONS

This study was limited by its retrospective design and lack of data on teachings status, case complexity, and intraoperative evaluation of technique.

CONCLUSIONS

Resident involvement in partial colectomies is associated with an increased major complications, minor complications, likelihood of return to the operating room, and operative time.

Appendicitis: changing perspectives

Neoplasms are an uncommon finding after appendectomy, with malignant tumors occurring in less than 1% of the surgical specimens, and carcinoid being the most frequent malignancy. A negative or inconclusive ultrasound is not adequate to rule out appendicitis and should be followed by CT scan. For pregnant patients, MRI is a reasonable alternative to CT scan. Nonoperative treatment with antibiotics is safe as an initial treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis, with a significant decrease in complications but a high failure rate. Open and laparoscopic appendectomies for appendicitis provide similar results overall, although the laparoscopic technique may be advantageous for obese and elderly patients but may be associated with a higher incidence of intraabdominal abscess. Preoperative diagnostic accuracy is of utmost importance during pregnancy because a negative appendectomy is associated with a significant incidence of fetal loss. The increased morbidity associated with appendectomy delay suggests that prompt surgical intervention remains the safest approach. Routine incidental appendectomy should not be performed except in selected cases. Interval appendectomy is not indicated because of considerable risks of complications and lack of any clinical benefit. Patients older than 40 years with an appendiceal mass or abscess treated nonoperatively should routinely have a colonoscopy as part of their follow-up to rule out cancer or alternative diagnosis.

Thirty-day outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in elderly using ACS/NSQIP database

BACKGROUND

Although laparoscopic appendectomy is becoming the procedure of choice over open appendectomy in the treatment of appendicitis, its role in the elderly has not been widely studied. The objective of this study was to compare the 30-day outcomes after laparoscopic versus open for appendicitis in the elderly patients.

METHODS

Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS/NSQIP) databases for years 2005-2009, 3,674 patients (age >65 years) who underwent an appendectomy for appendicitis were identified. Seventy-two percent of the procedures were performed laparoscopically. In addition to aggregate cohort analysis, propensity score 1:1 matching was used to minimize the treatment selection bias. The association between surgical approach and morbidity, mortality, and length of stay (LOS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

In the aggregate cohort analysis, patients who underwent an open appendectomy had a higher rate of minor morbidity (9.3% vs. 4.5%; p < 0.001), overall morbidity (13.4% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.001), and mortality (2% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.003). However, in the matched cohort analysis, open appendectomy was only associated with a higher rate of minor morbidity (9.3% vs. 5.7%; p = 0.002) and overall morbidity (13.4% vs. 10.1%; p = 0.02) but similar mortality rates (2% vs. 1.5%; p = 0.313). In matched cohort analysis, open appendectomy also was associated with a higher rate of superficial surgical site infection (SSI) (3.8% vs. 1.4%; p < 0.001) and a lower rate of organ/space SSI (1.3% vs. 2.9%; p = 0.009). Laparoscopic appendectomy was associated with a shorter LOS in both aggregate and matched cohorts compared with open appendectomy (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Within ACS NSQIP hospitals, elderly patients benefited from a laparoscopic approach to appendicitis with regards to a shorter LOS and a lower minor and overall morbidity. Laparoscopic appendectomy was associated with lower superficial SSI and higher organ/space SSI rates.

Trend, variability, and outcome of open vs. laparoscopic appendectomy based on a large administrative database

The aim of this study was to ascertain the variability and 9-year trends in the use of laparoscopic surgery for appendicitis using data from a large administrative database, to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of laparoscopic (LA) and open appendectomy, and to ascertain whether different choices of surgical approach stem from evidence-based recommendations. This was a retrospective cohort study based on administrative data collected from 2000 to 2008 in the Veneto Region (northeastern Italy). Funnel plots were used to display variability between local health units (LHUs). A total of 38,314 appendectomies were performed from 2000 to 2008 in the Veneto Region, 53% of them in males. The laparoscopic procedure was used more often for females than for males of fertile age. There was a significant rising linear trend in the use of LA, with a higher increment among females. The overall regional standardized appendectomy rate was 82.9/10,000. The mean proportion of LAs (27.3%) ranged from 2.8 to 59.4% at different LHUs, and there was no relationship between the volume of procedures undertaken and the proportion of LAs. The proportion of LAs performed in females of reproductive age also varied considerably, on no apparent evidence-based grounds. The analysis of aggregate clinical data is a powerful tool for supporting regional health management units in efforts to improve the quality of medical care and assess the appropriateness of therapeutic or diagnostic approaches in the light of practical guidelines. Variability in the treatment of a given disease that lacks any evidence-based justification remains an important issue in national health systems.