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Rey R, Gualtieri R, La Scala G, Posfay Barbe K. Artificial Intelligence in the Diagnosis and Management of Appendicitis in Pediatric Departments: A Systematic Review. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2024; 34:385-391. [PMID: 38290564 DOI: 10.1055/a-2257-5122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing field in medical research that could potentially help in the challenging diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) in children. However, usefulness of AI in clinical settings remains unclear. Our aim was to assess the accuracy of AIs in the diagnosis of AA in the pediatric population through a systematic literature review. METHODS PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using the following keywords: "pediatric," "artificial intelligence," "standard practices," and "appendicitis," up to September 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using PROBAST. RESULTS A total of 302 articles were identified and nine articles were included in the final review. Two studies had prospective validation, seven were retrospective, and no randomized control trials were found. All studies developed their own algorithms and had an accuracy greater than 90% or area under the curve >0.9. All studies were rated as a "high risk" concerning their overall risk of bias. CONCLUSION We analyzed the current status of AI in the diagnosis of appendicitis in children. The application of AI shows promising potential, but the need for more rigor in study design, reporting, and transparency is urgent to facilitate its clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Rey
- Department of Human Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Renato Gualtieri
- Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Geneva, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Giorgio La Scala
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Hôpital des enfants, Geneva University Hospitals, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Klara Posfay Barbe
- Division of General Pediatrics, Hôpital des enfants, Geneva University Hospitals, Genève, Switzerland
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O'Guinn ML, Keane OA, Lee WG, Feliciano K, Spurrier R, Gayer CP. Clinical Characteristics of Avoidable Patient Transfers for Suspected Pediatric Appendicitis. J Surg Res 2024; 300:54-62. [PMID: 38795673 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2024.04.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pediatric surgical care is becoming increasingly regionalized, often resulting in limited access. Interfacility transfers pose a significant financial and emotional burden to when they are potentially avoidable. Of transferred patients, we sought to identify clinical factors associated with avoidable transfers in pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis. METHODS We performed a single-center retrospective study at an academic tertiary referral children's hospital in an urban setting. We included children who underwent interfacility transfer to our center with a transfer diagnosis of appendicitis from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023. Encounters were designated as either an appropriate transfer (underwent appendectomy) or an avoidable transfer (did not undergo appendectomy). Encounters treated nonoperatively for complicated appendicitis were excluded. Bivariate analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test and chi-square tests. RESULTS A total of 444 patients were included: 71.2% were classified as appropriate transfers and 28.8% as avoidable transfers. Patients with avoidable transfer were younger compared to those in the appropriate transfer cohort (median age 9 y, interquartile range: 7-13 versus 11 y, interquartile range: 8-14; P < 0.001). Avoidable transfers less frequently presented with the typical symptoms of fever, migratory abdominal pain, anorexia, and nausea/emesis (P = 0.005). Avoidable transfers also reported shorter symptom duration (P = 0.040) with lower median white blood cell count (P < 0.001), neutrophil percentage (P < 0.001), and C-reactive protein levels (P < 0.003). Avoidable transfers more frequently underwent repeat imaging upon arrival (42.9% versus 12.7%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of clinical history in children with suspected appendicitis. Younger patients without typical symptoms of appendicitis, those with a shorter duration of symptoms, and lower serum inflammatory markers may benefit from close observation without transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- MaKayla L O'Guinn
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Olivia A Keane
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - William G Lee
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Karina Feliciano
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ryan Spurrier
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Christopher P Gayer
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Division of Pediatric Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
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Trinidad S, Parrado R, Hoang M, Toraman Turk S, Unaka N, Beck AF, Schondelmeyer A, Kotagal M. Potential causes of delays in paediatric perforated appendicitis: A prospective interview study. J Paediatr Child Health 2024; 60:193-199. [PMID: 38695512 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.16556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
AIM Delays in care may be a driver of inequities in perforated appendicitis rates. The goal of this study was to explore potential causes of delay in care for children with perforated appendicitis. METHODS We conducted an interview study of caregivers of children admitted with perforated appendicitis to a children's hospital between December 2022 and March 2023. Semi-structured interviews based on an iteratively revised interview guide were conducted in-person during the child's admission. All interviews were transcribed, coded and underwent a process of thematic analysis. RESULTS We reached thematic saturation after 12 interviews. The median age for children was 13.5 years, 50% were male, 83% of caregivers self-identified as White, and one interview required an interpreter. Through thematic analysis, four major themes for potential causes of delay emerged. The first theme of symptom recognition includes delays related to recognising the symptoms, their severity and the need for medical evaluation. The second theme - accessing care - describes delays that occur after a decision was made to seek care until the child was evaluated. The third theme includes delays that occur in making the diagnosis after evaluation. The last theme captures potential delays in definitive treatment after a diagnosis of appendicitis is made. CONCLUSION We identify four major themes from the patient and family perspective, each with multiple sub-themes, for potential delays in definitive care for children with perforated appendicitis. Additional research is needed to further characterise these potential delays and quantify their role in contributing to inequities in perforation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Trinidad
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Raphael Parrado
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Mindy Hoang
- Department of Medical Education, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Sinem Toraman Turk
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Global Health Leadership Initiative, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Ndidi Unaka
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Michael A. Fisher Child Health Equity Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- HealthVine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Andrew F Beck
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Michael A. Fisher Child Health Equity Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- HealthVine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- James M. Anderson Center for Health System Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Amanda Schondelmeyer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- James M. Anderson Center for Health System Excellence, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Meera Kotagal
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
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Mostafa R, El-Atawi K. Misdiagnosis of Acute Appendicitis Cases in the Emergency Room. Cureus 2024; 16:e57141. [PMID: 38681367 PMCID: PMC11055627 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most frequent surgical emergencies, especially in pediatric populations, with its misdiagnosis in emergency settings presenting significant health risks. This misdiagnosis leads to various complications, such as delayed treatment or unnecessary surgeries. Factors such as age, gender, and comorbidities contribute to diagnostic errors, leading to complications such as peritonitis and increased negative appendectomy rates. This underscores the importance of accurate clinical assessment and awareness of common pitfalls, such as cognitive biases and over-reliance on laboratory tests. This review delves into the prevalence of AA misdiagnosis, its health burden, and the challenges inherent in the diagnostic process. It scrutinizes the effectiveness of different diagnostic approaches, including clinical assessment and imaging techniques. The treatment paradigms for AA are also explored, focusing on surgical interventions and the potential of conservative treatments using antibiotics. The review underscores the criticality of precise diagnosis in preventing adverse outcomes and ensuring effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham Mostafa
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Al Zahra Hospital Dubai (AZHD), Dubai, ARE
| | - Khaled El-Atawi
- Pediatrics/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Latifa Women and Children Hospital, Dubai, ARE
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Trinidad S, Goldshore M, Kotagal M. Addressing health equity in pediatric surgical care in the United States- Progress and challenges. Semin Pediatr Surg 2023; 32:151354. [PMID: 37967486 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2023.151354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
There are notable inequities in health outcomes for children based on their social determinants of health (SDOH), including where they are born and live, their primary language, their race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and more. These health inequities are not restricted to resource limited settings; here we highlight three broad topics that are relevant to pediatric surgeons in the United States (US): access to care and disparities, and examples of inequities in firearm-related injuries and appendicitis. Most of our patients will at some point require operative interventions, yet there can be significant challenges in accessing this care and navigating our health systems, particularly around complex perioperative care. There are significant opportunities to improve equitable care by helping patients navigate our health systems and connecting them with additional resources, including screening for primary care services. Firearm-related injuries are now the leading cause of death in children in the US, with significant associated morbidity for non-fatal injuries. There are notable inequities in the risk of injury and types of injuries experienced by children based on their SDOH. Appendicitis is one of the most common pathologies managed by pediatric surgeons, with similar inequities in the rates of perforated appendicitis based on a child's SDOH. For both issues, addressing the inequities our patients experience requires moving upstream and working towards prevention. Key opportunities include better research and data to understand the drivers for observed inequities, multidisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and public health advocacy among others. As a profession, we have a responsibility to work to address the health inequities our patients experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Trinidad
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Matthew Goldshore
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Meera Kotagal
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
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Delgado-Miguel C, Miguel-Ferrero M, García A, Delgado B, Camps J, Martínez L. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of postoperative complications and readmissions after appendectomy in children. Updates Surg 2023; 75:2273-2278. [PMID: 37659982 DOI: 10.1007/s13304-023-01639-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
To analyze the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting the development of postoperative complications and readmission after appendectomy in children. A retrospective single-centered case-control study was conducted on children who underwent appendectomy between 2017 and 2020. Demographics, time since symptoms onset, laboratory tests at admission, postoperative complications, and readmissions in the first 30 days after surgery were recorded. Sensitivity and specificity analysis of the parameters evaluated were determined by the area under the curve (AUC) represented on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A total of 1,214 patients (765 males; 449 females) were included, with a median age at diagnosis of 10.4 years. The median time from symptom onset was 24 h. During the first 30 days after surgery, 149 postoperative complications were reported (12.3%). NLR at admission presented the highest AUC (0.753), with a cut-off point of 10.5 for maximum sensitivity (68.7%) and specificity (86.1%). Readmissions were reported in 45 cases (3.7%). NLR at admission presented an AUC of 0.794 significantly higher than neutrophils (0.696), leukocytes (0.654), and time since symptom onset (0.622), making these differences statistically significant (p < 0.001). The cut-off point of NLR > 12.4 was estimated, with a maximum sensitivity and specificity of 71.0% and 82.3% for predicting readmission. NLR is an independent predictor of postoperative complications and readmission in children with acute appendicitis. While its application in routine clinical practice has yet to be established, the NLR may provide clinicians with a tool for identifying high-risk surgical patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Delgado-Miguel
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Prisma Health Children's Hospital, 9 Richland Medical Park, Columbia, SC, 29203, USA.
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, La Paz Children's Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Antonella García
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, La Paz Children's Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bonifacio Delgado
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Prisma Health Children's Hospital, 9 Richland Medical Park, Columbia, SC, 29203, USA
| | - Juan Camps
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Prisma Health Children's Hospital, 9 Richland Medical Park, Columbia, SC, 29203, USA
| | - Leopoldo Martínez
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, La Paz Children's Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research La Paz (IdiPaz), Network for Maternal and Children Health (SAMID), La Paz Children's Hospital, Madrid, Spain
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Stewart S, Cruz-Centeno N, Marlor DR, St Peter SD, Oyetunji TA. Bridging the Gap: Pediatric General Surgery for the Pediatrician. Pediatr Rev 2023; 44:632-643. [PMID: 37907417 DOI: 10.1542/pir.2022-005894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
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Kupietzky A, Finkin M, Dover R, Eliezer Lourie NE, Mordechai-Heyn T, Juster EY, Mazeh H, Mizrahi I. Higher Rates of Complicated Appendicitis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Year-to-Year Analysis. J Surg Res 2023; 290:304-309. [PMID: 37329625 PMCID: PMC10208264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic impacted presentation, management strategies, and patient outcomes of numerous medical conditions. The aim of this study is to perform a year-to-year comparison of clinical outcomes of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) before and during the pandemic. METHODS Patients treated for AA during the initial 12-mo period of the pandemic at our institute were compared to those treated for AA during the 12-mo period before. Clinical and laboratory parameters, treatment strategies, intraoperative findings, pathology reports, and postoperative outcomes were compared. RESULTS During the study period, 541 patients presented with AA. The median (interquartile range) age was 28 (21-40) y and 292 (54%) were males. 262 (48%) patients presented during the pre-COVID-19 period, while 279 patients (52%) presented during the COVID 19 pandemic. The groups were comparable for baseline clinical data and imaging results upon index admission. There was no significant difference in rate of nonoperative treatment between the Pre-COVID-19 and During-COVID-19 eras (51% versus 53%, P = 0.6) as well as the success rate of such treatment (95.4% versus 96.4%, P = 0.3). Significantly more patients presented with a periappendicular abscess during COVID-19 (4.6% versus 1.1%, P = 0.01) and median (interquartile range) operative time was significantly longer (78 (61-90) versus 32.5 (27-45) min, P < 0.001). Pathology reports revealed a higher rate of perforated appendicitis during COVID-19 (27.4% versus 10.2%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with AA present with higher rates of perforated and complicated appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The success rates of nonoperative management in selected patients with noncomplicated AA did not change during the pandemic and is a safe, feasible, option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amram Kupietzky
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Miriam Finkin
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Military Medicine and "Tzameret", Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Jerusalem, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Roi Dover
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nachum Emil Eliezer Lourie
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tzlil Mordechai-Heyn
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eyal Yonathan Juster
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Haggi Mazeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ido Mizrahi
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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Aouad M. The intracorrelation of family health insurance and job lock. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2023; 90:102749. [PMID: 37343310 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
This paper tests for the presence of job lock and "health insurance plan lock" stemming from the health shock of a child family member. Using the onset of an acute, unanticipated health shock, I estimate a 7-14 percent decreased likelihood of all family members leaving their current health insurance network and health plan within one year of the emergency. This corresponds to a reduced one-year job mobility rate of approximately 13 percent for the health plan's primary policyholder. Furthermore, the non-portability of health insurance products may contribute to the observed job and health plan lock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Aouad
- University of California Irvine, Department of Economics, 3151 Social Sciences Plaza Irvine, CA 92697, United States of America.
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Shieh A, Pham PK, Plouffe NA, Heyming TW. Negative Appendectomies: Evaluating Diagnostic Imaging Techniques at General versus Pediatric Emergency Departments. J Emerg Med 2023; 64:304-310. [PMID: 36868944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2022.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although appendicitis is the most common pediatric surgical emergency, the path to diagnosis remains equivocal, with utilization of imaging modalities largely institution dependent. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to compare imaging practices and negative appendectomy rates between patients transferred from nonpediatric hospitals to our pediatric hospital and primary patients presenting directly to our institution. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all laparoscopic appendectomy cases performed at our pediatric hospital in 2017 for imaging and histopathologic results. Two-sample z-test was used to examine negative appendectomy rates between transfer and primary patients. The negative appendectomy rates of patients who received different imaging modalities were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS Of 626 patients, 321 (51%) were transferred from nonpediatric hospitals. The negative appendectomy rate for transfer patients was 6.5% and 6.6% for primary patients (p = 0.99). Ultrasound (US) was the only imaging obtained in 31% of transfer and 82% of primary patients. The negative appendectomy rate of US performed at transfer hospitals compared with our pediatric institution was not significantly different (11% vs. 5%, p = 0.06). Computed tomography (CT) was the only imaging obtained in 34% of transfer and 5% of primary patients. Both US and CT were completed for 17% of transfer and 19% of primary patients. CONCLUSION The negative appendectomy rates of transfer and primary patients were not significantly different despite more frequent CT use at nonpediatric facilities. It may be valuable to encourage US utilization at adult facilities given the potential to safely reduce CT use in the evaluation of suspected pediatric appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Shieh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Phung K Pham
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California
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Ott KC, Vacek JC, McMahon MA, Moeckel CM, Hu YY, Raval MV, Goldstein SD. Expedited Surgical Care of Appendicitis is Associated With Improved Resource Utilization. J Surg Res 2023; 282:93-100. [PMID: 36265430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Appendectomy for acute appendicitis is the most common pediatric intra-abdominal operation. Current literature supports the notion that modest in-hospital, preoperative delays are not associated with greater patient morbidity. However, there is less certainty regarding the role that hour-of-presentation plays in determining the timing of surgery. Thus, we aimed to evaluate how after-hours presentation may relate to the timing of surgery and to assess the outcomes and resource utilization associated with expedited appendectomy compared to nonexpedited. METHODS Patient records for children who underwent an appendectomy at a freestanding pediatric hospital from 2015 to 2019 were reviewed. Business hour presentations were defined as arrival at the emergency department from 7 AM to 6 PM. Primary outcomes were hospital length of stay (LOS), cost derived from the Pediatric Health Information System database, perforation, surgical complications, and 30-day readmissions. RESULTS Nine hundred forty-two patients underwent appendectomy over the study period. The median time to OR was 2.0 h in the expedited cohort and 9.8 h in the nonexpedited group. Presentation during business hours was associated with 4.4 higher odds (P < 0.001) of expedited workflow. Expedited appendectomies were associated with shorter hospital LOS (11.5 h, P < 0.001), less costly admissions ($1,155, P < 0.001); LOS measured in midnights, perforation and readmission rates were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS We found reduced resource utilization associated with expedited appendectomy. Additionally, the demonstrated association between the time of presentation to the emergency department (ED) and the timing of surgery may be utilized to inform staffing and resource deployment decisions. Further research regarding the generalizability and sustainability of an expedited presurgical workflow in pediatric appendectomy is certainly indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C Ott
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Jonathan C Vacek
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Maxwell A McMahon
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Camille M Moeckel
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Yue-Yung Hu
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mehul V Raval
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Seth D Goldstein
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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Takagi T, Kinoshita S, Kawaguchi C, Ohyama T. Delayed Presentation and Referral Time from General Practitioners Contribute to Increased Complicated Appendicitis during the Initial COVID-19 Pandemic Period in Japan. J Anus Rectum Colon 2023; 7:17-24. [PMID: 36743468 PMCID: PMC9876603 DOI: 10.23922/jarc.2022-029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aims to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the situation of acute appendicitis (AA) with respect to patients' and general practitioners' behaviors in a general community hospital in Japan. Methods The surgical outcomes and periods from symptom onset to medical presentation besides practitioners' referral time for consecutive AA patients were compared between the control (January 2016 to March 2020) and COVID-19 periods (April 2020 to April 2021). Results Eighty-three patients who underwent emergency surgery for AA were reviewed. Complicated appendicitis significantly increased in the COVID-19 period (63.6% vs. 31.2%, P = 0.023). In the COVID-19 period, the time from symptom onset to the medical presentation (2.2 vs. 0.9 days, P < 0.001) was significantly longer than in the control period. Among the patients who first presented to a general practitioner, the referral time from the practitioner to our hospital was significantly longer in the COVID-19 period (1.6 vs. 0.7 days, P = 0.017). Furthermore, among patients with a fever of higher than 38°C at medical presentation, the time from symptom onset to medical presentation was significantly longer in the COVID-19 period (3.0 vs. 0.7 days, P = 0.015). There was no difference in severe postoperative complications. Conclusions Hesitation to seek surgical treatment for AA was seen in both the patients and practitioners in the COVID-19 period. The delay in surgical treatment presumably led to the increase in severe AA. In a pandemic era, timely care for emergent conditions is a crucial challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadataka Takagi
- Department of Surgery, Heisei Memorial Hospital, Kashihara, Japan
| | | | | | - Takao Ohyama
- Department of Surgery, Heisei Memorial Hospital, Kashihara, Japan
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Quaglietta PR, Ramjist JK, Antwi J, Kissoondoyal A, Lapidus-Krol E, Baertschiger RM. Unanticipated consequences of COVID-19 pandemic policies on pediatric acute appendicitis surgery. J Pediatr Surg 2023; 58:931-938. [PMID: 36775681 PMCID: PMC9851992 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Global pandemics may limit access to specialized care, delaying diagnosis and treatment of common acute surgical diseases. We analyzed the impact of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on acute appendicitis at an urban tertiary care center. We hypothesize that pandemics are associated with delayed presentation and worsened clinical sequelae, specifically, higher incidences of perforation in children. METHODS We retrospectively assessed patients admitted to our institution with acute appendicitis in pre-pandemic control (February 2018-June 2019) and COVID-19 (February 2020-June 2021) cohorts. Primary outcomes included complicated appendicitis rates (perforation/abscess/bowel obstruction), COVID-19 status, complications and travel distance to our institution. 1107 patients met inclusion criteria: 491 (44.4%) during the control period and 616 (55.6%) in the COVID-19 cohort. Statistical analysis involved t-tests, contingency tables and logistic regression modelling for key variables. RESULTS A larger proportion of complicated appendicitis occurred during COVID-19 compared to controls (28.3% vs 38.8%, p < 0.001). Symptom duration at presentation and length of stay were not significantly different. Duration of antibiotic treatment, surgery length, readmission rate and travel distances were significantly higher during COVID-19. The pre-pandemic cohort had a significantly younger age distribution. CONCLUSION Pediatric appendicitis was significantly impacted during COVID-19, demonstrated by increased rates of complicated appendicitis, surgery duration and antibiotic duration. This may be an unintended secondary consequence of patients avoiding healthcare facilities for non-pandemic related illnesses or lockdown policies. Government policies directing all provincial pediatric appendicitis cases to pediatric institutions increased travel distances for our patients and had unanticipated consequences and resource requirements on tertiary healthcare. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III for "Treatment Studies".
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula R Quaglietta
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada; Institute of Medial Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Joshua K Ramjist
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Antwi
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Ashby Kissoondoyal
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Eveline Lapidus-Krol
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Reto M Baertschiger
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada; Institute of Medial Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada; Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
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14
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Delgado-Miguel C, Muñoz-Serrano A, San Basilio M, Miguel-Ferrero M, de Ceano-Vivas M, Martínez L. The role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in avoiding negative appendectomies. An Pediatr (Barc) 2023; 98:12-18. [PMID: 36088243 DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2022.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inflammatory biomarker that is easily calculated with data from the differential white blood cell count. The aim of our study was to analyse the role of the NLR in the detection of negative appendectomies and to compare its usefulness with other clinical, sonographic and laboratory factors previously described. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study in patients aged less than 16 years who underwent appendectomy in our hospital between 2017 and 2020. We divided patients into 2 groups based on appendiceal histological findings: NA group (negative appendicitis: absence of appendiceal inflammation) and PA group (positive appendicitis: presence of inflammation in any layer of the appendiceal wall). We analysed demographic, clinical, sonographic and laboratory characteristics. RESULTS We included a total of 1269 patients, 1244 in the PA group and 25 in the NA group, with no differences between groups in demographic characteristics. The proportion of patients that presented with nausea and vomiting was significantly smaller in the NA group compared to the PA group (P < .001), and there were no other differences in symptoms. The appendiceal diameter on ultrasound was significantly smaller in the NA group (8.1 ± 2.1 vs. 9.7 ± 2.8 mm; P < .001). The white blood cell and neutrophil counts and the NLR were significantly higher in the PA group (P < .001), as was the level of C-reactive protein (18.6 vs. 2.6; P = .005). The ROC curve analysis revealed that the NLR was the parameter with the highest AUC (0.879) for the diagnosis of negative appendicitis, with a cut-off point of 2.65 for a maximum sensitivity of 84.2% and specificity of 83.8%. CONCLUSION The NLR is the preoperative parameter that best discriminates patients without acute appendicitis. Values of less than 2.65 should make clinicians contemplate diagnoses other than appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - María San Basilio
- Pediatric Surgery Department, La Paz Children's Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Leopoldo Martínez
- Pediatric Surgery Department, La Paz Children's Hospital, Madrid, Spain; Institute for Health Research IdiPAZ, Maternal and Child Health and Development Network (SAMID), La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
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15
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Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Frequency of Complicated Appendicitis in Pediatric Populations. ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023. [DOI: 10.5812/pedinfect-129026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Background: The clinical course of acute appendicitis, one of the most common diseases needing surgical intervention in children, was affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The global fear and panic about the outbreak and governmental decisions on lockdowns and restrictions led to an increasing number of complicated forms of appendicitis. Objectives: This study aimed to compare different aspects of appendicitis and its complications between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional analytical study, we enrolled all patients with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis for two consecutive years. Only children under 14 years of age were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups based on the time of disease presentation, the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Demographic features, as well as clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, were compared between the two groups. Results: Out of 369 patients included in the study, 173 were placed in the pre-pandemic group. There was no significant change in the incidence of appendicitis between the two periods (P = 0.232). However, the incidence of complicated appendicitis increased remarkably during the pandemic (27% vs. 11%, P < 0.001). No substantial differences were found in parameters like age, sex, laboratory findings, and the length of hospital stay between the two groups (P > 0.005). The patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had a significantly higher hospitalization duration (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggested that the rate of complicated appendicitis was substantially higher during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic time. Also, the proportion of midline laparotomy was significantly higher after the outbreak. These findings suggested that delays in care provision during the COVID-19 outbreak could have probably contributed to the rise in the incidence of complicated appendicitis in children.
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16
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Applicability of American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria Decision-Making Model for Acute Appendicitis Diagnosis in Children. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12122915. [PMID: 36552924 PMCID: PMC9776694 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12122915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain in the emergency department and the most common surgical emergency reason for children younger than 15 years of age, which could be enormously dangerous when ruptured. The choice of radiological approach is very important for the diagnosis. In this way, unnecessary surgery is avoided. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the American College of Radiology appropriateness criteria for radiological imaging in diagnosing acute appendicitis with multivariate decision criteria. In our study, pediatric patients who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain were grouped according to the Appendicitis Inflammatory Response (AIR) score and the choice of radiological examinations was evaluated with fuzzy-based Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) and with the fuzzy-based Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model for the validation of the results. As a result of this study, non-contrast computed tomography (CT) was recommended as the first choice for patients with low AIR score (where Φnet=0.0733) and with high AIR scores (where Φnet=0.0702) while ultrasound (US) examination was ranked third in patients with high scores. While computed tomography is at the forefront with many criteria used in the study, it is still a remarkable practice that US examination is in the first place in daily routine. Even though there are studies showing the strengths of these tools, this study is unique in that it provides analytical ranking results for this complex decision-making issue and shows the strengths and weaknesses of each alternative for different scenarios, even considering vague information for the acute appendicitis diagnosis in children for different scenarios.
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17
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Zewdu D, Wondwosen M, Tantu T, Tilahun T, Teshome T, Hamu A. Predictors and management outcomes of perforated appendicitis in sub-Saharan African countries: A retrospective cohort study. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 80:104194. [PMID: 36045808 PMCID: PMC9422206 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have found an association between various predictors and perforated appendicitis. However, there is limited evidence of studies determining the severity of acute appendicitis (AA) in resource-limited settings. Thus, this study aimed to identify predictors and outcomes of perforated appendicitis (PA) in sub-Saharan countries. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 298 adult patients who underwent surgical intervention for acute appendicitis. Demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, intraoperative findings, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were collected. We computed multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of PA. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of 298 patients, PA was 142(47.65%). The identified risk factors for PA are referred patients (AOR = 3.932; 95% CI (2.201–7.027), fever >38 °C (AOR = 4.569; 95% CI (2.249–9.282), and duration of symptoms >2 days (AOR = 2.704; 95% CI (1.400–5.222). Perforation was associated with an increased rate of postoperative complications (45.07vs. 6.41%; P < 0.001) and a longer length of hospital stay (3 vs. 5 days; P < 0.001). Conclusions The incidences of PA in our study are consistent with other reports in developing countries. Referred patients, longer duration of symptoms >2 days, and presence of fever >38 °C were the best predictors of PA. The overall total postoperative complications and the length of hospital stays were higher in PA. Based on our findings, we recommend that the identified predictors should be considered during the preoperative diagnosis and subsequent management. The rate of Perforated Appendix is relatively high in sub-Saharan countries. Duration of symptoms, fever and referred patients were the predictors of PA. PA increased the risk of postoperative morbidity and length of hospital stays.
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18
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Zouari M, Ben Ameur H, Krichen E, Kraiem N, Ben Dhaou M, Mhiri R. Time to Surgery Does Not Impact Outcome in Pediatric Appendicitis. Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2022; 23:558-563. [PMID: 35704046 DOI: 10.1089/sur.2022.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite the high prevalence of acute appendicitis in children and substantial resource utilization associated with this condition, no consensus has been reached on optimal timing for performing appendectomies. The aim of this study was to examine the association between time to appendectomy and outcomes and assess the feasibility of delayed appendectomy in children. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients younger than 14 years of age undergoing an appendectomy for suspected appendicitis. We divided our patients into two groups based on whether their time to appendectomy was shorter or longer than eight hours: group A, early appendectomy and group B, delayed appendectomy. Then we compared the two study groups regarding demographic, clinical, and radiographic characteristics, peri-operative data, and outcomes. Results: During the eight-year study period, a total of 1,141 patients underwent appendectomies. After applying exclusion criteria, 852 children were included: 544 (63.8%) in group A and 308 (36.2%) in group B. There were no differences in the rate of complicated appendicitis at exploration, post-operative complications, length of post-operative hospital stay, and 30-day re-admission rate between the two study groups. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that delaying appendectomy within 24 hours of presentation is safe and feasible for pediatric acute appendicitis. Therefore, patients presenting during nighttime hours could be initially treated conservatively with antibiotic agents. This allows the surgeon to delay surgery to the following day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zouari
- Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Hana Ben Ameur
- Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Emna Krichen
- Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Najoua Kraiem
- Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mahdi Ben Dhaou
- Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Riadh Mhiri
- Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
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19
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Utilidad del índice neutrófilo-linfocito en la detección de apendicectomías negativas. An Pediatr (Barc) 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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20
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Li C, Saleh A. Effect of COVID-19 on pediatric appendicitis presentations and complications. J Pediatr Surg 2022; 57:861-865. [PMID: 35093252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.12.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in children. This study aims to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected pediatric patients with acute appendicitis with regards to presentation and complications. METHODS After obtaining ethics approval, we performed a chart review of pediatric patients admitted with a diagnosis of appendicitis from March 1, 2019 to June 30, 2019 and March 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Data collection included a post-operative period of 30 days. The primary outcome of interest was complication rates post-appendectomy. Secondary outcomes included time to presentation, symptoms, time to surgery, and rate of perforation. RESULTS Overall, 205 patients were included with 115 in the pre-pandemic group and 90 in the pandemic group. There was no significant difference in complication rates (16% pre-pandemic vs. 13.3% pandemic). In the pandemic group, time from symptom onset to presentation was significantly longer (1.87 days vs. 2.42 days, p = 0.01), more patients presented with emesis (70% vs. 55%, p<0.05), more patients had perforated appendicitis (47% vs. 32%, p<0.05), more patients were likely to be tachycardic (46% vs. 32%, p = 0.05) and waited less time for surgery (5.75 h vs. 4.15 h, p = 0.05) which both approached significance. CONCLUSION Significant delays in pediatric appendicitis presentation, and higher rates of tachycardia and perforation were seen during the pandemic. This did not result in increased complication rates but could suggest pandemic patients were more ill than their pre-pandemic counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Li
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, 2D2.01 Walter Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, 8440 - 112 Street Edmonton AB T6G 2B, Canada.
| | - Abdullah Saleh
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, 2C3.44 Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, 8440 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; Stollery Children's Hospital, 2C3.44 Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
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21
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Frongia G, Dostal F, Ziebell L, Vuille-Dit-Bille NR, Müller T, Schenk JP, Mehrabi A, Günther P. Delayed Surgery for Perforated Appendicitis is Feasible in Children Without Compromising the Outcome in Selected Cases. World J Surg 2022; 46:1980-1986. [PMID: 35445826 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-022-06561-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The relationship between time to surgery and risk of postoperative complications and re-intervention has not been conclusively investigated in pediatric perforated appendicitis (PA). The aim of this study was to determine whether time to appendectomy (TTA) is a risk factor for postoperative complications and re-intervention in a cohort of children undergoing appendectomy for PA. METHODS A total of 254 children (age: 8.7 ± 3.7 years) undergoing appendectomy for PA were retrospectively evaluated and stratified into Group I-III according to the Clavien-Dindo classification for postoperative complications (Group I n = 218, 86%; Group II n = 7, 3%; Group III n = 29, 11%). RESULTS The TTA was comparable between all groups (group I: 8.8 ± 9.2 h; group II: 7.8 ± 5.3 h; group III: 9.5 ± 9.6 h; overall: 8.8 ± 9.1 h; p = 0.885). A C-reactive protein (CRP) value at admission of ≥128.6 mg/l indicated a higher risk for developing Grade II complications with no need for re-intervention (OR: 3.963; 95% CI: 1.810-8.678; p = 0.001) and Grade III complications with the need for re-intervention (OR: 3.346; 95% CI: 1.456-7.690; p = 0.004). This risk was independent of the TTA (OR: 1.007; 95% CI: 0.980-1.035; p = 0.613). CONCLUSIONS Appendectomy can be delayed by an average time delay of about 9 h in children with PA without increasing the risk of postoperative complications and re-intervention, also in patients at high risk defined by the initial CRP level ≥ 128.6 mg/l. This data may support the correct risk-adjusted scheduling of surgical interventions in times of limited capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Frongia
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - F Dostal
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - L Ziebell
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - N R Vuille-Dit-Bille
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - T Müller
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J P Schenk
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Mehrabi
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - P Günther
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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22
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Sekiguchi N, Matsuyama J, Koh M, Iede K, Ueda M, Tsuda Y, Nakashima S, Tanida T, Ikenaga M, Yamada T. Examination of factors related to pathological severity and microperforation in patients undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis. ADVANCES IN DIGESTIVE MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/aid2.13311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Sekiguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Jin Matsuyama
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Masahiro Koh
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Kiyotsugu Iede
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Masami Ueda
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Yujiro Tsuda
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Shinsuke Nakashima
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Tsukasa Tanida
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Masakazu Ikenaga
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
| | - Terumasa Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological surgery, Higashiosaka city medical center Osaka Japan
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23
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Castro P, Rincón J, Sánchez C, Molina I, Buitrago G. Presurgical time and associated factors as predictors of acute perforated appendicitis: a prospective cohort study in a teaching pediatric hospital in Colombia. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:49. [PMID: 35057783 PMCID: PMC8772156 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03121-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We aim to determine the association between out and in-hospital factors with time, from the beginning of the symptoms to the surgery, in patients with acute appendicitis treated at Fundación Hospital Pediatrico La Misericordia (HOMI) in Colombia. Methods Eleven month prospective cohort study of pediatric patients at HOMI with acute appendicitis diagnosis taken to surgery. Data from the out-of-hospital phase was collected by surveying parents, and the data regarding the in-hospital phase was completed with medical records. We analyzed the association between the time from the beginning of the symptoms to the surgery, and out and in-hospital factors associated with this time using generalized linear models. Results Eight hundred three patients were included in the study. Total pre-surgical time was longer in perforated appendicitis (PA) group (2.65 days, standard deviation (SD) 1.88 vs. 2.04 days, SD 1.45) (p < 0.01). Factors associated with longer total and out-of-hospital presurgical times were age under 4 years old, lower socioeconomic status, father as a caregiver, self-medication, and underestimating disease severity. Conclusions Out-of-hospital timing determines the longer pre-surgical time in complicated appendicitis. Younger age and lower socioeconomic status affect time significantly. We suggest the implementation of strategies in order to lower prehospital time, rates, and costs of complicated appendicitis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-022-03121-8.
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24
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van Amstel P, M L The SM, Bakx R, Bijlsma TS, Noordzij SM, Aajoud O, de Vries R, Derikx JPM, van Heurn LWE, Gorter RR. Predictive scoring systems to differentiate between simple and complex appendicitis in children (PRE-APP study). Surgery 2022; 171:1150-1157. [PMID: 35067338 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2021.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several clinical prediction rules have been developed for preoperative differentiation between simple and complex appendicitis in children, as potential treatment strategies differ. This study aimed to externally validate applicable clinical prediction rules that could be used to differentiate between simple and complex appendicitis in children. METHODS Potential clinical prediction rules were identified by a scoping review of the literature. Clinical prediction rules applicable in our daily practice were subsequently externally validated in a multicenter historical cohort consisting of 1 tertiary center and 1 large teaching hospital. All children (<18 years old) with histopathologically confirmed acute appendicitis between 2013 and 2020 were included. Test results of clinical prediction rules were compared to the gold standard of either simple or complex appendicitis consisting of predefined perioperative and histopathological criteria. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were determined for the selected clinical prediction rules. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.7 were considered acceptable and potentially useful. RESULTS In total, 31 clinical prediction rules were identified, of which 12 could be evaluated in our cohort consisting of 550 children. The main reason to exclude clinical prediction rules was the use of variables that were not routinely measured in our cohort. In our cohort, 208/550 (38%) were diagnosed with complex appendicitis according to the gold standard. Clinical prediction rules with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.7 were: Gorter (0.81), Bogaard (0.79), Bröker (0.79), Graham (0.77), Hansson (0.76), BADCF (0.76), and Eddama (0.75). CONCLUSION In this study, clinical prediction rules consisting of a combination of clinical and objective variables had the highest discriminative ability. External validation showed that 7 clinical prediction rules were potentially useful. Integration of these clinical prediction rules in daily practice is proposed to guide decision making regarding treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul van Amstel
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Sarah-May M L The
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Northwest Hospital, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
| | - Roel Bakx
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Taco S Bijlsma
- Department of Surgery, Northwest Hospital, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
| | | | - Oumaima Aajoud
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ralph de Vries
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University Library, The Netherlands
| | - Joep P M Derikx
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L W Ernest van Heurn
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ramon R Gorter
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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25
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Pogorelić Z, Anand S, Žuvela T, Singh A, Križanac Z, Krishnan N. Incidence of Complicated Appendicitis during the COVID-19 Pandemic versus the Pre-Pandemic Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 2782 Pediatric Appendectomies. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:127. [PMID: 35054293 PMCID: PMC8774400 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12010127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted volume, management strategies and patient outcomes of acute appendicitis. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate whether the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in higher incidence of complicated appendicitis in children presenting with acute appendicitis compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. The secondary aim was to investigate the proportion of the patients treated by non-operative management (NOM). METHODS A systematic search of four scientific databases was performed. The search terms used were (coronavirus OR SARS-CoV-2 OR COVID-19 OR novel coronavirus) AND (appendicitis). The inclusion criteria were all patients aged <18 years and diagnosed with acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 periods. The proportion of children presenting with complicated appendicitis and the proportion of children managed by NOM was compared between the two groups. The Downs and Black scale was used for methodological quality assessment. RESULTS The present meta-analysis included thirteen studies (twelve retrospective studies and one cross-sectional study). A total of 2782 patients (1239 during the COVID-19 period) were included. A significantly higher incidence of complicated appendicitis (RR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.33-2.01, p < 0.00001) and a significantly higher proportion of children managed via the NOM (RR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.45-2.61, p < 0.00001) was observed in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic when compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. CONCLUSION There is a significantly higher incidence of complicated appendicitis in children during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the pre-COVID-19 period. Additionally, a significantly higher proportion of children was managed via the NOM during the pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenon Pogorelić
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Split, 21 000 Split, Croatia
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21 000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Sachit Anand
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai 400053, India;
| | - Tomislav Žuvela
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21 000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Apoorv Singh
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; (A.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Zvonimir Križanac
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Split, 21 000 Split, Croatia;
| | - Nellai Krishnan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; (A.S.); (N.K.)
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Ergün E, Sözduyar S, Gurbanova A, Serttürk F, Çiftçi E, Özdemir H, Arga G, Konca HK, Çınar G, Akdemir Kalkan İ, Gülten E, Selvi Can Ö, Şen Akova B, Suat Fitöz Ö, Vatansever G, Tekin D, Göllü G, Bingöl-Koloğlu M, Yağmurlu A, Çakmak M, Ateş U. An indirect effect of COVID-19 pandemic: Increased pediatric perforated appendicitis rate due to delayed admission. Turk J Surg 2021; 37:318-323. [PMID: 35677491 PMCID: PMC9130943 DOI: 10.47717/turkjsurg.2021.5277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency among children. The coronavirus pandemic affected the system of hospitals more than any other field, and great amount of people were concerned about visiting the hospitals for any reason. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the profile of appendicitis by emphasizing perforated and acute appendicitis in the pandemic period and to compare the rates with previous three years. Material and Methods Charts of the children who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy due to appendicitis between March 11-September 30 between 2017-2020 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of demographic data, duration of symptoms, duration between hospital admission and surgery, radiologic imaging and perioperative outcomes. Results This study includes 467 children who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. There were 97 procedures in 2020, 111 in 2019, 146 in 2018 and 113 in 2017. Multiple comparison tests revealed that age did not show difference; but onset of symptoms in admission (p= 0.004), hospitalization time before surgery (p <0.001), total hospitalization time (p <0.001) showed statistically significant difference between years. Pairwise comparisons showed that these parameters were increased in 2020 compared to other years. Perforated appendicitis rate was significantly increased in 2020 when compared to previous years. Conclusion Although there is no direct relation between appendicitis and COVID-19 infection in the current knowledge, perforated appendicitis was found to be increased in children during the COVID pandemic. Reason of the higher rate of perforated appendicitis may be multifactorial; however, the pandemic appears to have a role in increased morbidity in children with appendicitis indirectly due to delay of hospital admissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ergun Ergün
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sümeyye Sözduyar
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aynur Gurbanova
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Fırat Serttürk
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ergin Çiftçi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Halil Özdemir
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gül Arga
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hatice Kübra Konca
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Güle Çınar
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - İrem Akdemir Kalkan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Gülten
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Özlem Selvi Can
- Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Birsel Şen Akova
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ömer Suat Fitöz
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Göksel Vatansever
- Division of Pediatric Emergency, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Deniz Tekin
- Division of Pediatric Emergency, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gülnur Göllü
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Meltem Bingöl-Koloğlu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Aydın Yağmurlu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Murat Çakmak
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ufuk Ateş
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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Akgül F, Er A, Ulusoy E, Çağlar A, Çitlenbik H, Keskinoğlu P, Şişman AR, Karakuş OZ, Özer E, Duman M, Yılmaz D. Integration of Physical Examination, Old and New Biomarkers, and Ultrasonography by Using Neural Networks for Pediatric Appendicitis. Pediatr Emerg Care 2021; 37:e1075-e1081. [PMID: 31503129 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000001904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate physical examinations, imaging, and laboratory analyses individually and combined using innovative statistical analysis methods for the accurate diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis. METHODS Patients admitted to hospital with symptoms of abdominal pain whose pediatric appendicitis scores greater than 3 were included in the study. Clinical, radiologic, and laboratory findings and as a new biomarker calprotectin (CPT) concentrations were evaluated individually and combined using artificial neural networks (ANNs), which revealed latent relationships for a definitive diagnosis. RESULTS Three hundred twenty patients were evaluated (190 appendicitis [43 perforated] vs 130 no appendicitis). The mean ± SD age was 11.3 ± 3.6 years and 63% were male. Pediatric appendicitis scores, white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, procalcitonin (PCT) and CPT concentrations were higher in the appendicitis group; however, only WBC and ANC were higher in first 24 hours of pain. White blood cells and CRP were diagnostic markers in patients whose appendix could not be visualized using ultrasonography (US). On classic receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the areas under the curve (AUCs) were not strong enough for differential diagnosis (WBC, 0.73; ANC, 0.72; CRP, 0.65; PCT and CPT, 0.61). However, when the physical examination, US, and laboratory findings were analyzed in a multivariate model and the ROC analysis obtained from the variables with ANN, an ROC curve could be obtained with 0.91 AUC, 89.8% sensitivity, and 81.2% specificity. C-reactive protein and PCT were diagnostic for perforated appendicitis with 0.83 and 0.75 AUC on ROC. CONCLUSIONS Although none of the biomarkers were sufficient for an accurate diagnosis of appendicitis individually, a combination of physical examination and laboratory and US was a good diagnostic tool for pediatric appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Akgül
- From the Department of Pediatric Emergency Care
| | - Anıl Er
- From the Department of Pediatric Emergency Care
| | - Emel Ulusoy
- From the Department of Pediatric Emergency Care
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Erdener Özer
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Murat Duman
- From the Department of Pediatric Emergency Care
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Zaikos TD, Boudiab EM, Peshel EC, Wu AA, Dyer E, Haut ER, Salimian KJ. Acute appendicitis severity during the early COVID-19 pandemic period. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open 2021; 6:e000809. [PMID: 34466662 PMCID: PMC8392736 DOI: 10.1136/tsaco-2021-000809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The early COVID-19 pandemic period significantly strained the US healthcare system. During this period, consultations and admissions for acute medical conditions decreased, which was associated with an increase in disease-specific morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we sought to determine what, if any, effect the early COVID-19 pandemic period had on the presentation, management, and histopathologic severity of acute appendicitis. Methods We performed a retrospective, observational study to compare the frequencies with which patients presented with acute appendicitis, the proportion of whom were managed surgically, and the distribution of histopathologic disease severity among all resected appendix specimens during the early COVID-19 pandemic period (March 6-June 30, 2020) to equivalent time periods for the 3 preceding/pre-pandemic years (2017-2019). Results Compared with equivalent pre-pandemic time periods, during the COVID-19 pandemic period there was no significant difference in the number of patients who presented for acute appendicitis, there was a decreased rate of surgical management (81% vs 94%; p=0.014), and there was an overall increase in the incidence of perforated appendicitis (31% vs 16%; p=0.004), including by histopathologic diagnosis (25% vs 11%; p=0.01). Discussion Despite potential patient hesitancy to present for care, the early COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with no significant change in the number of patients presenting with acute appendicitis; however, there was a significant increase in the incidence of perforated appendicitis. This study highlights the need to encourage patients to avoid late presentation for acute surgical conditions and for the robust planning for the medical management of otherwise surgical abnormalities during episodes of restricted or limited resources. Level of evidence Level III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Zaikos
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Emanuela C Peshel
- Department of General Surgery, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
| | - Annie A Wu
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ethan Dyer
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elliott R Haut
- Divsion of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,The Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Health Policy and Management, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kevan J Salimian
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Goyal MK, Chamberlain JM, Webb M, Grundmeier RW, Johnson TJ, Lorch SA, Zorc JJ, Alessandrini E, Bajaj L, Cook L, Alpern ER. Racial and ethnic disparities in the delayed diagnosis of appendicitis among children. Acad Emerg Med 2021; 28:949-956. [PMID: 32991770 DOI: 10.1111/acem.14142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appendicitis is the most common surgical condition in pediatric emergency department (ED) patients. Prompt diagnosis can reduce morbidity, including appendiceal perforation. The goal of this study was to measure racial/ethnic differences in rates of 1) appendiceal perforation, 2) delayed diagnosis of appendicitis, and 3) diagnostic imaging during prior visit(s). METHODS This was a 3-year multicenter (seven EDs) retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with appendicitis using the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network Registry. Delayed diagnosis was defined as having at least one prior ED visit within 7 days preceding appendicitis diagnosis. We performed multivariable logistic regression to measure associations of race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic [NH]-white, NH-Black, Hispanic, other) with 1) appendiceal perforation, 2) delayed diagnosis of appendicitis, and 3) diagnostic imaging during prior visit(s). RESULTS Of 7,298 patients with appendicitis and documented race/ethnicity, 2,567 (35.2%) had appendiceal perforation. In comparison to NH-whites, NH-Black children had higher likelihood of perforation (36.5% vs. 34.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.21 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 1.01 to 1.45]). A total of 206 (2.8%) had a delayed diagnosis of appendicitis. NH-Black children were more likely to have delayed diagnoses (4.7% vs. 2.0%; aOR = 1.81 [95% CI = 1.09 to 2.98]). Eighty-nine (43.2%) patients with delayed diagnosis had abdominal imaging during their prior visits. In comparison to NH-whites, NH-Black children were less likely to undergo any imaging (28.2% vs. 46.2%; aOR = 0.41 [95% CI = 0.18 to 0.96]) or definitive imaging (e.g., ultrasound/computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging; 10.3% vs. 35.9%; aOR = 0.15 [95% CI = 0.05 to 0.50]) during prior visits. CONCLUSIONS In this multicenter cohort, there were racial disparities in appendiceal perforation. There were also racial disparities in rates of delayed diagnosis of appendicitis and diagnostic imaging during prior ED visits. These disparities in diagnostic imaging may lead to delays in appendicitis diagnosis and, thus, may contribute to higher perforation rates demonstrated among minority children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika K. Goyal
- Departments of Pediatrics & Emergency Medicine Children's National HospitalThe George Washington University Washington DC USA
| | - James M. Chamberlain
- Departments of Pediatrics & Emergency Medicine Children's National HospitalThe George Washington University Washington DC USA
| | - Michael Webb
- Department of Pediatrics University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Robert W. Grundmeier
- Department of Pediatrics Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaUniversity of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USA
| | | | - Scott A. Lorch
- Department of Pediatrics Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaUniversity of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USA
| | - Joseph J. Zorc
- Department of Pediatrics Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaUniversity of Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA USA
| | - Evaline Alessandrini
- James M. Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati OH USA
| | - Lalit Bajaj
- Department of Pediatrics University of ColoradoChildren's Hospital Colorado Aurora CO USA
| | - Lawrence Cook
- Department of Pediatrics University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Elizabeth R. Alpern
- Department of Pediatrics Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's HospitalNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago IL USA
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Saalabian K, Rolle U, Friedmacher F. Impact of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence, Presentation, and Management of Pediatric Appendicitis: Lessons Learned from the First Wave. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2021; 31:311-318. [PMID: 34161983 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The fast-evolving nature of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented clinical, logistical, and socioeconomical challenges for health-care systems worldwide. While several studies have analyzed the impact on the presentation and management of acute appendicitis (AA) in the adult population, there is a relative paucity of similar research in pediatric patients with AA. To date, there is some evidence that the incidence of simple AA in children may have decreased during the first lockdown period in spring 2020, whereas the number of complicated AA cases remained unchanged or increased slightly. Despite a worrying trend toward delayed presentation, most pediatric patients with AA were treated expediently during this time with comparable outcomes to previous years. Hospitals must consider their individual capacity and medical resources when choosing between operative and non-operative management of children with AA. Testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 is imperative in all pediatric patients presenting with fever and acute abdominal pain with diarrhea or vomiting, to differentiate between multisystem inflammatory syndrome and AA, thus avoiding unnecessary surgery. During the further extension of the COVID-19 crisis, parents should be encouraged to seek medical care with their children early in order that the appropriate treatment for AA can be undertaken in a timely fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Saalabian
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (Main), Germany
| | - Udo Rolle
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (Main), Germany
| | - Florian Friedmacher
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt (Main), Germany
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Bludevich BM, Danielson PD, Snyder CW, Nguyen ATH, Chandler NM. Does speed matter? A look at NSQIP-P outcomes based on operative time. J Pediatr Surg 2021; 56:1107-1113. [PMID: 33762117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appendicitis is a common pediatric surgical condition, comprising a large burden of healthcare costs. We aimed to determine if prolonged operative times were associated with increased 30-day complication rates when adjusting for pre-operative risk factors. METHODS Patients <18 years old, diagnosed intraoperatively with acute uncomplicated appendicitis and undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy were identified from the NSQIP-P 2012-2018 databases. The primary outcome, "infectious post-operative complications", is a composite of sepsis, deep incisional surgical site infections, wound disruptions, superficial, and organ space infections within 30-days of the operation. Secondary outcomes included return to the operating room and unplanned readmissions within 30 days. Logistic regression models were used to assess associations between operative time and each outcome. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was generated from the predicted probabilities of the multivariate model for infectious post-operative complications to examine operative times. RESULTS Between 2012 and 2018, 27,763 pediatric patients with acute uncomplicated appendicitis underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy. Over half the population was male (61%) with a median operative time of 39 min (IQR 29-52 min). Infectious post-operative complication rate was 2.8% overall and was highest (8%) among patients with operative time ≥ 90 min (Fig. 1). Unplanned readmission occurred in 2.9% of patients, with 0.7% returning to the operating room. Each 30-min increase in operating time was associated with a 24% increase in odds of an infectious post-operative complication (OR=1.24, 95% CI=1.17-1.31) in adjusted models. Operative time thresholds predicted with ROC analysis were most meaningful in younger patients with higher ASA class and pre-operative SIRS/Sepsis/Septic shock. Longer operative times were also associated with higher odds of unplanned readmission (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.05-1.18) and return to the operating room (OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.02-1.24) in adjusted models. CONCLUSION There is a risk-adjusted association between prolonged operative time and the occurrence of infectious post-operative complications. Infectious postoperative complications increase healthcare spending and are currently an area of focus in healthcare value models. Future studies should focus on addressing laparoscopic appendectomy operative times longer than 60 min, with steps such as continuation of antibiotics, shifting roles between attending and resident surgeons, and simulation training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level III, retrospective comparative study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce M Bludevich
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States; Department of General Surgery, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Paul D Danielson
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Christopher W Snyder
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Anh Thy H Nguyen
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Johns Hopkins All Children's Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States
| | - Nicole M Chandler
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Saint Petersburg, FL, United States.
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Bonilla L, Gálvez C, Medrano L, Benito J. Impact of COVID-19 on the presentation and course of acute appendicitis in paediatrics. ANALES DE PEDIATRÍA (ENGLISH EDITION) 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpede.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Yang Y, Li Y, Du X. Acute complex appendicitis during the COVID-19 epidemic: A single-institution retrospective analysis based on real-world data. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 46:74-77. [PMID: 33740569 PMCID: PMC7946537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To investigate the influence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on incidence of acute complex appendicitis and management of acute appendicitis. Methods Patients undergoing acute appendicitis surgery in a single center during the COVID-19 epidemic from January to September 2020 and patients from January to September 2019 were taken as the epidemic group and control group respectively. The clinical characteristics and surgical pathological information were compared between the two groups. The primary outcome measure was complex appendicitis. Results A total of 235 patients were included in the study, containing 106 in the epidemic group and 129 in the control group. The patients in the epidemic group had a significantly longer interval from the onset of symptoms to registration (37.92 h vs 24.57 h, P = 0.028), from registration to admission (18.69 h vs 8.04 h, P < 0.001), and from admission to surgery (7.23 h vs 6.52 h, P = 0.016). The epidemic group had a higher incidence of suppurative appendicitis (86.8% vs 76.0%, P = 0.036) and a higher incidence of complex appendicitis (35.8% vs 19.4%, P = 0.005). Conclusion Higher incidence of acute complex appendicitis seemed to occur during COVID-19 outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yang
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, PR China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, PR China
| | - Xiaohui Du
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, PR China.
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Fisher JC, Tomita SS, Ginsburg HB, Gordon A, Walker D, Kuenzler KA. Increase in Pediatric Perforated Appendicitis in the New York City Metropolitan Region at the Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak. Ann Surg 2021; 273:410-415. [PMID: 32976285 PMCID: PMC7869969 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine whether perforated appendicitis rates in children were influenced by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surge. BACKGROUND Disruption of care pathways during a public health crisis may prevent children from obtaining prompt assessment for surgical conditions. Progression of appendicitis to perforation is influenced by timeliness of presentation. In the context of state-mandated controls and public wariness of hospitals, we investigated the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on perforated appendicitis in children. STUDY DESIGN We conducted an analysis of all children presenting to 3 hospital sites with acute appendicitis between March 1 and May 7, 2020, corresponding with the peak COVID-19 outbreak in the New York City region. Control variables were collected from the same institutions for the preceding 5 years. The primary outcome measure was appendiceal perforation. RESULTS Fifty-five children presented with acute appendicitis over 10 weeks. Compared to a 5-year control cohort of 1291 patients, we observed a higher perforation rate (45% vs 27%, odds ratio 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.29-3.85, P = 0.005) and longer mean duration of symptoms in children with perforations (71 ± 39 vs 47 ± 27 h, P = 0.001) during the COVID-19 period. There were no differences in perforation rates (55% vs 59%, P = 0.99) or median length of stay (1.0 vs 3.0 days, P = 0.58) among children screening positive or negative for SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSIONS Children in the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak demonstrated higher rates of perforated appendicitis compared to historical controls. Preoperative detection of SARS-CoV-2 was not associated with inferior outcomes. Although children likely avoid much of the morbidity directly linked to COVID-19, disruption to local healthcare delivery systems may negatively impact other aspects of pediatric surgical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Fisher
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York, NY
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ
| | - Sandra S Tomita
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York, NY
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ
| | - Howard B Ginsburg
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York, NY
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ
| | - Alex Gordon
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York, NY
| | - David Walker
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, Hackensack, NJ
| | - Keith A Kuenzler
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York, NY
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ
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Hall NJ, Sherratt FC, Eaton S, Reading I, Walker E, Chorozoglou M, Beasant L, Wood W, Stanton M, Corbett HJ, Rex D, Hutchings N, Dixon E, Grist S, Hoff WV, Crawley E, Blazeby J, Young B. Conservative treatment for uncomplicated appendicitis in children: the CONTRACT feasibility study, including feasibility RCT. Health Technol Assess 2021; 25:1-192. [PMID: 33630732 PMCID: PMC7958256 DOI: 10.3310/hta25100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although non-operative treatment is known to be effective for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children, randomised trial data comparing important outcomes of non-operative treatment with those of appendicectomy are lacking. OBJECTIVES The objectives were to ascertain the feasibility of conducting a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a non-operative treatment pathway with appendicectomy for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children. DESIGN This was a mixed-methods study, which included a feasibility randomised controlled trial, embedded and parallel qualitative and survey studies, a parallel health economic feasibility study and the development of a core outcome set. SETTING This study was set in three specialist NHS paediatric surgical units in England. PARTICIPANTS Children (aged 4-15 years) clinically diagnosed with uncomplicated acute appendicitis participated in the feasibility randomised controlled trial. Children, their families, recruiting clinicians and other health-care professionals involved in caring for children with appendicitis took part in the qualitative study. UK specialist paediatric surgeons took part in the survey. Specialist paediatric surgeons, adult general surgeons who treat children, and children and young people who previously had appendicitis, along with their families, took part in the development of the core outcome set. INTERVENTIONS Participants in the feasibility randomised controlled trial were randomised to a non-operative treatment pathway (broad-spectrum antibiotics and active observation) or appendicectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was the proportion of eligible patients recruited to the feasibility trial. DATA SOURCES Data were sourced from NHS case notes, questionnaire responses, transcribed audio-recordings of recruitment discussions and qualitative interviews. RESULTS Overall, 50% (95% confidence interval 40% to 59%) of 115 eligible patients approached about the trial agreed to participate and were randomised. There was high acceptance of randomisation and good adherence to trial procedures and follow-up (follow-up rates of 89%, 85% and 85% at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, respectively). More participants had perforated appendicitis than had been anticipated. Qualitative work enabled us to communicate about the trial effectively with patients and families, to design and deliver bespoke training to optimise recruitment and to understand how to optimise the design and delivery of a future trial. The health economic study indicated that the main cost drivers are the ward stay cost and the cost of the operation; it has also informed quality-of-life assessment methods for future work. A core outcome set for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children and young people was developed, containing 14 outcomes. There is adequate surgeon interest to justify proceeding to an effectiveness trial, with 51% of those surveyed expressing a willingness to recruit with an unchanged trial protocol. LIMITATIONS Because the feasibility randomised controlled trial was performed in only three centres, successful recruitment across a larger number of sites cannot be guaranteed. However, the qualitative work has informed a bespoke training package to facilitate this. Although survey results suggest adequate clinician interest to make a larger trial possible, actual participation may differ, and equipoise may have changed over time. CONCLUSIONS A future effectiveness trial is feasible, following limited additional preparation, to establish appropriate outcome measures and case identification. It is recommended to include a limited package of qualitative work to optimise recruitment, in particular at new centres. FUTURE WORK Prior to proceeding to an effectiveness trial, there is a need to develop a robust method for distinguishing children with uncomplicated acute appendicitis from those with more advanced appendicitis, and to reach agreement on a primary outcome measure and effect size that is acceptable to all stakeholder groups involved. TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15830435. FUNDING This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 25, No. 10. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel J Hall
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Frances C Sherratt
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Simon Eaton
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Department of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Isabel Reading
- Primary Care and Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Erin Walker
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Maria Chorozoglou
- Southampton Health Technology Assessment Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Lucy Beasant
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Wendy Wood
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Research Design Service South Central, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Michael Stanton
- Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Southampton Children's Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Harriet J Corbett
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Dean Rex
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Natalie Hutchings
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Elizabeth Dixon
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Simon Grist
- Patient and public involvement representative
| | - William Van't Hoff
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Esther Crawley
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jane Blazeby
- Centre for Surgical Research, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Bridget Young
- Department of Health Services Research, Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Horst KK, Kolbe AB, McDonald JS, Froemming AT, Parvinian A, Klinkner DB, Binkovitz LA. Imaging pediatric acute appendicitis during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: collateral damage is variable. Pediatr Radiol 2021; 51:1991-1999. [PMID: 34402958 PMCID: PMC8367768 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-021-05128-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a worldwide pandemic in March 2020, many authors have noted the collateral damage on non-COVID-19-related illnesses. These indirect effects of the pandemic have resulted in people presenting later and with more severe stages of disease, even if their diagnoses are not directly related to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. OBJECTIVE We studied these indirect effects of COVID-19 on the imaging workup and outcomes for pediatric patients at our center who had acute appendicitis during the pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective review of cases in children ≤18 years who were evaluated for acute appendicitis during the same period, March 1 to May 31, in both 2019 and 2020. We compared demographic and clinical data as well as surgical and pathological findings, and we graded imaging findings according to severity. Differences in patient outcomes were assessed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and the Pearson chi-square test. RESULTS The total number of pediatric patients evaluated with imaging for acute appendicitis dropped by 43% between 2019 and 2020 (298 vs. 169), but the total number of children treated remained similar (59 vs. 51). There was proportionate use of US and CT in each timeframe but a higher percentage of positive imaging findings in 2020 (50/169, 29.6% vs. 56/298, 18.7% in 2019, P=0.04). There were more imaging examinations with features of complicated appendicitis among positive cases (9/51, 18% vs. 5/59, 8% in 2019, P=0.08) and more pathologically proven perforated cases during the pandemic (14/51, 27% vs. 6/59, 10% in 2019, P=0.11), although these results did not reach statistical significance. There were no changes in surgical management, vital signs, laboratory values, length of stay or complication rates. CONCLUSION There was a large drop in the number of pediatric patients imaged for acute appendicitis during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic despite similar numbers of patients treated. The utilization trends of US vs. CT remained stable between time periods. The differences in imaging findings and perforation rates were less pronounced compared to other published studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly K. Horst
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Amy B. Kolbe
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Jennifer S. McDonald
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Adam T. Froemming
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Ahmad Parvinian
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
| | - Denise B. Klinkner
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Larry A. Binkovitz
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905 USA
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Bonilla L, Gálvez C, Medrano L, Benito J. [Impact of COVID-19 on the presentation and course of acute appendicitis in paediatrics]. An Pediatr (Barc) 2020; 94:245-251. [PMID: 33431331 PMCID: PMC7749640 DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introducción La apendicitis aguda (AA) es la patología quirúrgica urgente más frecuente en pediatría. La pandemia por la COVID-19 ha generado un descenso en las consultas a urgencias, pudiendo conllevar un retraso en la atención sanitaria y un aumento en la gravedad de las patologías. El objetivo es analizar la tasa de AA complicadas durante la pandemia, en comparación con el mismo periodo del año anterior. Material y métodos Estudio retrospectivo observacional de cohortes unicéntrico que incluyó a pacientes menores de 14 años atendidos en urgencias con diagnóstico de AA durante los meses de marzo a mayo de 2019 (no pandemia) y 2020 (pandemia). Resultados Se incluyeron 90 pacientes (41 en no pandemia y 49 en pandemia). No se encontraron diferencias en el tiempo desde el inicio de la clínica hasta la consulta en urgencias entre los dos periodos (37 h vs. 38 h, p = 0,881), pero sí en el tiempo desde la llegada a urgencias hasta la intervención quirúrgica (7:00 h vs. 10:30 h; p = 0,004). La diferencia se acentuó al comparar el mes de marzo con abril-mayo de 2020 (6 h vs. 12 h; p = 0,001). No se observaron diferencias significativas en la tasa de AA complicadas en el diagnóstico intraoperatorio (35% vs. 33%; p = 0,870) ni anatomopatológico (35% vs. 48%; p = 0,222), ni tampoco en el número de complicaciones postoperatorias, duración de ingreso y reingresos. Se objetivó un aumento del diagnóstico anatomopatológico de AA con periapendicitis (47% vs. 81%; p = 0,001). Conclusión Durante la pandemia se observó una demora desde la llegada a urgencias hasta la intervención quirúrgica en niños diagnosticados de AA. Esta demora se tradujo en un incremento del diagnóstico de AA evolucionadas histológicamente, pero sin objetivarse un aumento de las complicaciones de la enfermedad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leire Bonilla
- Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Barakaldo, España
| | - Carmen Gálvez
- Servicio de Cirugía Infantil, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Barakaldo, España
| | - Lara Medrano
- Servicio de Cirugía Infantil, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Barakaldo, España
| | - Javier Benito
- Servicio de Urgencias de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Barakaldo, España.
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Tan PH, Teng XX, Gan ZY, Tan SQ. A Study on the Clinical Factors Associated with Acute Appendicitis and Perforated Appendicitis among Children in a Secondary Medical Centre in Malaysia. Malays J Med Sci 2020; 27:139-146. [PMID: 32863753 PMCID: PMC7444837 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.4.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Appendicitis complicated with appendiceal perforation is common among children. The delay in diagnosis of appendicitis is due to children’s varied presentations and their difficulty in communicating symptoms. We aimed to identify clinical factors that aid in predicting acute appendicitis (AA) and perforated appendicitis (PA) among children. Methods This retrospective study involved 215 children aged 12 years and below with the initial diagnosis of AA and PA. Clinical factors studied were demographics, presenting symptoms, body temperature on admission (BTOA), white cell count (WCC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet count and urinalysis. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to determine the odds ratio of the statistically significant clinical factors. Results: The mean age of the included children was 7.98 ± 2.37 years. The odds of AA increased by 2.177 times when the age was ≥ 8 years (P = 0.022), 2.380 times when duration of symptoms ≥ 2 days (P = 0.011), 2.447 times with right iliac fossa (RIF) pain (P = 0.007), 2.268 times when BTOA ≥ 38 °C (P = 0.020) and 2.382 times when neutrophil percentage was ≥ 76% (P = 0.045). It decreased by 0.409 times with non-RIF pain (P = 0.007). The odds of PA was increased by 4.672 times when duration of symptoms ≥ 2 days (P = 0.005), 3.611 times when BTOA ≥ 38 °C (P = 0.015) and 3.678 times when neutrophil percentage ≥ 76% (P = 0.016). There was no significant correlation between WCC and ANC with AA and PA. Conclusion Older children with longer duration of symptoms, RIF pain and higher BTOA are more likely to have appendicitis. The risk of appendiceal perforation increases with longer duration of symptoms and higher BTOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pheng Hian Tan
- Department of Surgery, Hospital Seberang Jaya, Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Xiu Xin Teng
- Department of Surgery, Hospital Seberang Jaya, Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Zhen Yao Gan
- Department of Surgery, Hospital Seberang Jaya, Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Siew Qin Tan
- Department of Surgery, Hospital Seberang Jaya, Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
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Prolonged In-hospital Time to Appendectomy is Associated With Increased Complicated Appendicitis in Children. Ann Surg 2020; 275:1200-1205. [PMID: 32740232 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000004316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between prolonged in-hospital time to appendectomy (TTA) and the risk of complicated appendicitis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Historically, acute appendicitis was treated with emergency appendectomy. More recently, practice patterns have shifted to urgent appendectomy, with acceptable in-hospital delays of up to 24 hours. However, the consequences of prolonged TTA remain poorly understood. Herein, we present the largest individual analysis to date of outcomes associated with prolonged in-hospital delay before appendectomy in children. METHODS Data from patients who underwent appendectomy within 24 hours of hospital presentation were obtained from the American College of Surgeons Pediatric National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Procedure Targeted Appendectomy database from 2016 to 2018. Appendectomy within 16 hours of presentation was considered early, whereas those between 16 to 24 hours were defined as late. The primary outcome was operative findings of complicated appendicitis. Secondary outcomes included 30-day complications and resource utilization. RESULTS This study consisted of 18,927 patients, with 20.6% undergoing late appendectomy. The rate of complicated appendicitis was significantly higher in the late group (Early: 26.3%, Late: 30.3%, P < 0.05). Additionally, the late group had longer operative times, increased need for postoperative percutaneous drainage, antibiotics at discharge, parenteral nutrition, and an extended hospital length of stay (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, late appendectomy remained a predictor of complicated disease (odds ratio 1.17 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.27]). CONCLUSIONS A significant proportion of pediatric patients with acute appendicitis experience prolonged in-hospital delays before appendectomy, which are associated with modestly increased rates of complicated appendicitis. Although this does not indicate appendectomy needs to be done emergently, prolonged in-hospital TTA should be avoided whenever possible.
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Diagnostic Value of Serum Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor in Children With Acute Appendicitis. Pediatr Emerg Care 2020; 36:332-337. [PMID: 29324635 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000001416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical emergency in children. The accurate and timely diagnosis of AA in children can be challenging, and delayed diagnosis rates have been reported to range from 5.9% to 27.6%. Although combining clinical history and repeated physical examination with laboratory tests and radiographic imaging modalities help reach the diagnosis, novel biomarkers can support the surgeons' decision as well. The aims of this study were to evaluate a new plasma marker, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), to improve diagnostic accuracy in AA patients, and to determine a cutoff value of uPAR, which can safely include/exclude the diagnosis of AA. METHODS We conducted a prospective study of children who underwent surgery for AA. Patients were categorized into the following 3 groups: group 1, controls consisted of 32 healthy volunteers; group 2, patients underwent surgery for nonperforated AA (n = 35); and group 3, patients underwent surgery for perforated AA (n = 21). Blood was sampled from group 1 at the admission and from group 2 and 3 before appendectomy. Serum uPAR, white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and C-reactive protein concentrations were measured. RESULTS Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, ANC, and white blood cell count values were significantly higher in group 2 and 3 than group 1, but there was no significant difference between group 2 and 3. C-reactive protein values were significantly higher only in group 3 than other groups. The cutoff value for uPAR is 2.2 ng/mL with sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 84.3% and ANC is 5900 cells/mm with sensitivity of 91.1% and specificity of 96.9% to diagnose appendicitis. The specificity was 81.3% and sensitivity was raised to 98.2% when evaluated together. CONCLUSIONS The incorporation of uPAR count and ANC could be a strong predictor of AA in children.
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Miyauchi H, Okata Y, Hatakeyama T, Nakatani T, Nakai Y, Bitoh Y. Analysis of predictive factors for perforated appendicitis in children. Pediatr Int 2020; 62:711-715. [PMID: 31957108 DOI: 10.1111/ped.14148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this research was to investigate the diagnostic value of objective factors present at admission for identifying predictive markers of perforated appendicitis in children. METHODS We performed a retrospective case review of 319 children aged ≤15 years who underwent treatment for acute appendicitis at our institution over a 6-year period from January 2011 to December 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for perforation of acute appendicitis in children. RESULTS In the 6-year period, 319 patients underwent treatment for acute appendicitis, of whom 72 (22.6%) had perforated appendicitis. Multivariate analysis revealed five independent factors predicting perforated appendicitis at admission: longer symptom duration (≥2 days), fever (axillary temperature ≥38.0 °C), elevated C-reactive protein level (≥3.46 mg/dL), appendiceal fecalith on imaging, and ascites on imaging. Among patients with all five risk factors, 93.3% had perforated appendicitis. None of the patients without any of these factors had a perforated appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS Longer symptom duration (≥2 days), fever (axillary temperature ≥38.0 °C), elevated C-reactive protein level, and the presence of appendiceal fecalith and ascites on imaging are independent and objective factors predicting perforated appendicitis at admission. These risk factors have the potential to be helpful as an ancillary index for physicians determining the severity of appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harunori Miyauchi
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital, Himeji, Japan
| | - Yuichi Okata
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital, Himeji, Japan
| | - Tadashi Hatakeyama
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital, Himeji, Japan
| | - Taichi Nakatani
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital, Himeji, Japan
| | - Yumiko Nakai
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Society Himeji Hospital, Himeji, Japan
| | - Yuko Bitoh
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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Balogun OS, Osinowo A, Afolayan M, Olajide T, Lawal A, Adesanya A. Acute perforated appendicitis in adults: Management and complications in Lagos, Nigeria. Ann Afr Med 2019; 18:36-41. [PMID: 30729931 PMCID: PMC6380116 DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_11_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Acute perforation of the appendix is one of the complications of appendicitis that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and hence regarded as a surgical emergency. Risk factors for perforated appencidicits include extremes of age, male sex, pregnancy, immunosuppression, comorbid medical conditions and previous abdominal surgery. Objectives: This study focuses on the pattern of presentation, risk factors, morbidity and mortality of patients managed for perforated appendicitis in our centre. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a seven-year retrospective review of consecutive adult patients who had surgery for perforated appendicitis in our centre. Results: The perforation rate in the study was 28.5%. The peak age of presentation was between 21-30 years. Forty-two (71.1%) of the patients under study were males. Only 3 (5.1%) of the cohorts had history of recurrent abdominal pain. Majority of the patients were in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II (44.1%) and III (42.4%) categories. Surgical site infections (SSI) (18.6%), wound dehiscence (15.2%) and pelvic abscess (13.5%) were the most common complications. The Incidence of SSI was found to correlate with male gender, (P = 0.041), co-morbidity (P = 0.037) and ASA score (0.03) at 95% confidence interval. Routine use of intraperitoneal drain after surgery for perforated appendicitis did not appear to reduce the incidence of pelvic abscess. No mortality in the studied population. Conclusion: Appendiceal perforation was more common in male patients with first episode of acute appendicitis. Previous abdominal surgery and comorbid medical conditions were of lesser risk factors for appendiceal perforation in our patients. Surgical site infection was the commonest complication after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olanrewaju Samuel Balogun
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, General Surgery Unit, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Adedapo Osinowo
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Michael Afolayan
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, General Surgery Unit, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Thomas Olajide
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, General Surgery Unit, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Abdulrazzak Lawal
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, General Surgery Unit, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Adedoyin Adesanya
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, General Surgery Unit, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
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Oztan MO, Aksoy Gokmen A, Ozdemir T, Müderris T, Kaya S, Koyluoglu G. Pentraxin-3: A strong novel biochemical marker for appendicitis in children. Am J Emerg Med 2019; 37:1912-1916. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Jiang J, Wu Y, Tang Y, Shen Z, Chen G, Huang Y, Zheng S, Zheng Y, Dong R. A novel nomogram for the differential diagnosis between advanced and early appendicitis in pediatric patients. Biomark Med 2019; 13:1157-1173. [PMID: 31559834 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2019-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To develop a nomogram for differential diagnosis between advanced and early pediatric appendicitis (PA). Patients & methods: We retrospectively studied 669 PA patients. Patient characteristics and 24 serum markers were subjected to univariate and multivariate analysis, based on which the nomogram was constructed. Results: Fibrin degradation product, CRP and Na+ differed significantly between the advanced and early PA. The value of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.8602, which was greater than that of a single serum marker. Furthermore, the nomogram showed better discriminative ability than the biomarker alone. Notably, validation indicated high stability and reproducibility. Conclusion: The nomogram is superior to the serum marker alone, and may hold promise in clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
| | - Ying Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
| | - Yue Tang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
| | - Zhen Shen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
| | - Gong Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
| | - Yanlei Huang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
| | - Shan Zheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
| | - Yijie Zheng
- Department of Medical Scientific Affairs, Wuxi Diagnosis, Wuxi Apptec, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Rui Dong
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai 201102, PR China
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Prognostic Factors Associated with Clinical and Economic Outcomes of Appendectomies in Children: A Multilevel Analysis in a National Retrospective Cohort Study. World J Surg 2019; 44:303-312. [PMID: 31538249 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-019-05182-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis is the most common acute surgical abdominal pathology in children, and it has a large impact on morbidity and the costs incurred by health care systems. In low- and median-income countries, national information on the clinical and economic outcomes associated with this surgery does not exist. This study aimed to identify and describe the clinical and economic outcomes for children undergoing appendectomy in Colombia's contributory system and to determine the prognostic factors associated with these outcomes. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted using administrative data from patients under 18 years of age who underwent an appendectomy between July 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015, in Colombia's contributory health system. Thirty-day mortality rates, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates, length of stay (LOS), readmission rates and median costs were estimated for the entire country by geographic region and insurer. The prognostic factors associated with these outcomes were identified using generalized multilevel mixed models. RESULTS A total of 21,674 children were included. The 30-day postoperative mortality rate was 0.06% [95% CI 0.02-0.9], the ICU admission rate was 8.00% [95% CI 7.63-8.36], the mean LOS was 2.48 days (SD 5.24), the readmission rate was 1.5% [95% CI 1.33-1.66] and the median cost for Colombia was 394 USD [p25-p75: 256-555]. The prognostic factors that were associated with the 30-day ICU admission rate, LOS and readmission rate were the insurer, geographic region, age, occurrence of an appendectomy with peritoneal drainage, and certain comorbidities, such as cancer and neurological, respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. The prognostic factors associated with costs were those previously mentioned as well as the occurrence of a laparoscopic appendectomy. CONCLUSIONS In Colombia's contributory health system, large differences in clinical outcomes and the costs incurred by the system exist, and these differences are associated with the geographic region, the insurer, and some of the clinical characteristics of the children undergoing appendectomy.
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Laboratory Markers in the Prediction of Acute Perforated Appendicitis in Children. Emerg Med Int 2019; 2019:4608053. [PMID: 31641539 PMCID: PMC6770292 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4608053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to explore the laboratory markers associated with perforation in children with acute appendicitis. Methods This retrospective study reviewed 1895 children (3–18 years old) with confirmed acute appendicitis from 2007 to 2017. Clinical (demographic characteristics, symptoms, and signs) and laboratory data (white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, D-lactate, platelet count, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase) were collected and compared between perforated and nonperforated groups. The logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors. Results Of all patients, 613 children were perforated. Children with perforation had significantly longer duration of symptoms, higher white blood cell count, CRP level, and neutrophils percentage, and lower serum sodium level. Elevated white blood cell count with CRP level and elevated neutrophils percentage with CRP level were found to be associated with risk of perforation. Conclusions White blood cell count with C-reactive protein and neutrophils percentage with CRP are important markers in distinguishing perforated appendicitis from nonperforated appendicitis in pediatric subjects.
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Benito J, Fernandez S, Gendive M, Santiago P, Perez-Garay R, Arana-Arri E, Mintegi S. A new clinical score to identify children at low risk for appendicitis. Am J Emerg Med 2019; 38:554-561. [PMID: 31171439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Besides clinical signs and imaging, in recent years, biomarkers have proven to be a viable diagnostic resource for acute appendicitis (AA). OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a clinical score including clinical signs and a combination of biomarkers to identify children with abdominal pain at low risk of AA. DESIGN/METHODS We prospectively included children 2 to 14 years of age with abdominal pain suggestive of AA who presented to the emergency department between July 2016 and September 2017. A new score, the Pediatric Appendicitis Laboratory Score (PALabS) including clinical signs, leucocyte (WBC) and neutrophil (ANC) counts and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and calprotectin (CP) levels was developed and validated through secondary analyses of two distinct cohorts The validation sample included visits to a single pediatric emergency department from 2012 to 2013 and 2016 to 2017. RESULTS The derivation sample included 278 children, 35.9% of whom had AA and the validation sample included 255 children, 49% of whom had AA. Using logistic regression, we created a 6-part score that consisted of nausea (3 points), history of focal right lower quadrant pain (4 points), ANC of ≥7500/μL (7 points), WBC of ≥10,000/μL (4 points), CRP ≥ 10.0 mg/L (2 points) and CP ≥ 0.50 ≥ ng/mL (3 points). This score exhibited a high discriminatory power (area under the curve: 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.84 to 0.92) and outperformed the PAS and Kharbanda scores (area under the curve: 0.76; 95% confidence interval: 0.71 to 0.82 and 0.82; 95% confidence interval: 0.77 to 0.87, respectively). A PALabS ≤6 had a sensitivity of 99.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95.6-99.9), negative predictive value of 97.6% (95% CI: 87.7-99.6), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.03 (95% CI: 0.00-0.18) in the validation set. CONCLUSION In our validation cohort of patients with acute abdominal pain, the new score can accurately predict which children are at low risk of appendicitis and could be safely managed with close observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Benito
- Pediatric Emergency Department, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
| | - S Fernandez
- Pediatric Emergency Department, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - M Gendive
- Pediatric Emergency Department, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - P Santiago
- Pediatric Emergency Department, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - R Perez-Garay
- Department, Laboratory, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - E Arana-Arri
- Department of Epidemiologic Unit, Cruces University Hospital, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - S Mintegi
- Pediatric Emergency Department, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess whether increased time from emergency department (ED) triage to appendectomy is associated with a greater risk of children developing appendiceal perforation. METHODS We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of children younger than 18 years hospitalized with appendicitis. To avoid enrolling patients who had perforated prior to ED arrival, we included only children who had a computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrating nonperforated appendicitis. Time to appendectomy was measured as time from ED triage to incision. The main outcome was appendiceal perforation as documented in the surgical report. Variables associated with perforation in bivariate analysis (P < 0.05) were adjusted for using logistic regression. RESULTS Overall, 857 patients had a CT scan that demonstrated nonperforated appendicitis. The median age was 12 years (interquartile range, 9-15 years), and 500 (58%) were male. The median time to appendectomy was 11 hours (interquartile range, 8-15 hours). In total, 111 patients (13%) had perforated appendicitis at operation. Children who developed perforation were more likely to require additional CT scans and return to the ED and had a significantly longer length of stay. After adjusting for potential confounders, every hour increase in the time from ED triage to incision was independently associated with a 2% increase in the odds of perforation (P = 0.03; adjusted odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.04). CONCLUSIONS Delays in appendectomy were associated with an increase in the odds of perforation. These results suggest that prolonged delays to appendectomy might be harmful for children with appendicitis and should be minimized to prevent associated morbidity.
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Salö M, Gudjonsdottir J, Omling E, Hagander L, Stenström P. Association of IgE-Mediated Allergy With Risk of Complicated Appendicitis in a Pediatric Population. JAMA Pediatr 2018; 172:943-948. [PMID: 30083704 PMCID: PMC6233766 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.1634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Childhood appendicitis is commonly complicated by gangrene and perforation, yet the causes of complicated appendicitis and how to avoid it remain unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether children with IgE-mediated allergy have a lower risk of complicated appendicitis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study included all consecutive patients younger than 15 years (hereinafter referred to as children) who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis at a tertiary pediatric surgery center in Sweden between January 1, 2007, through July 31, 2017. Children were stratified between those with and without IgE-mediated allergies. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES Risk of complicated appendicitis with gangrene or perforation, with occurrence of IgE-mediated allergy as an independent variable and adjusted for age, sex, primary health care contacts, seasonal antigenic exposure, allergy medications, appendicolith, and duration of symptoms. RESULTS Of 605 included children (63.0% boys; median age, 10 years; interquartile range, 7-12 years), 102 (16.9%) had IgE-mediated allergy and 503 (83.1%) had no allergy. Complicated appendicitis occurred in 20 children with IgE-mediated allergy (19.6%) compared with 236 with no allergy (46.9%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.18-0.59). No significant allergy effect modification by sex, seasonal antigenic exposure, or allergy medication was found. Children with IgE-mediated allergy had a shorter hospital stay (median, 2 days for both groups; interquartile range, 1-2 days vs 1-5 days; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, children with IgE-mediated allergy had a lower risk of complicated appendicitis. The findings suggest that immunologic disposition modifies the clinical pattern of appendiceal disease. This theory introduces novel opportunities for understanding of the pathogenesis and clinical decision making for one of childhood's most common surgical emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Salö
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden,Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johanna Gudjonsdottir
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden,Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Erik Omling
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden,Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Hagander
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden,Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Surgery and Public Health, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Stenström
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden,Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Kharbanda AB, Christensen EW, Dudley NC, Bajaj L, Stevenson MD, Macias CG, Mittal MK, Bachur RG, Bennett JE, Sinclair K, McMichael B, Dayan PS. Economic Analysis of Diagnostic Imaging in Pediatric Patients With Suspected Appendicitis. Acad Emerg Med 2018; 25:785-794. [PMID: 29427374 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The use of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) in patients with acute abdominal pain has substantial variation across pediatric emergency departments (EDs). This study compares the cost of diagnosing and treating suspected appendicitis across a multicenter network of children's hospitals. METHODS This study is a secondary analysis using deidentified data of a prospective, observational study of patients with suspected appendicitis at nine pediatric EDs. The study included patients 3 to 18 years old who presented to the ED with acute abdominal pain of <96 hours' duration. RESULTS Our data set contained 2,300 cases across nine sites. There was an appendicitis rate of 31.8% and perforation rate of 25.7%. Sites correctly diagnosed appendicitis in over 95% of cases. The negative appendicitis rate ranged from 2.5% to 4.7% while the missed appendicitis rate ranged from 0.3% to 1.1% with no significant differences in these rates across site. Across sites, we found a strong positive correlation (0.95) between CT rate and total cost per case and a strong negative correlation (-0.71) between US rate and cost. The cost per case at US sites was 5.2% ($367) less than at CT sites (p < 0.001). Similarly, costs per case at mixed sites were 3.4% ($244) less than at CT sites (p < 0.001). Comparing costs among CT sites or among US sites, the cost per case generally increased as the images per case increased among both CT sites and US sites, but the costs were universally higher at CT sites. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide support for US as the primary imaging modality for appendicitis. Sites that preferentially utilized US had lower costs per case than sites that primarily used CT. Imaging rates across sites varied due to practice patterns and resulted in a significant cost consequence without higher rates for negative appendectomies or missed appendicitis cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam B Kharbanda
- Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Eric W Christensen
- Health Services Management, College of Continuing and Professional Studies, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Nanette C Dudley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Lalit Bajaj
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO
| | | | - Charles G Macias
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Manoj K Mittal
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Richard G Bachur
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jonathan E Bennett
- Department of Pediatrics, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Jefferson Medical College, Wilmington, DE
| | - Kelly Sinclair
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO
| | - Brianna McMichael
- Children's Minnesota Research Institute, Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Peter S Dayan
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
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