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Adams SE, Perera MRS, Fung S, Maxton J, Karpelowsky J. Non-operative management of uncomplicated appendicitis in children: a randomized, controlled, non-inferiority study evaluating safety and efficacy. ANZ J Surg 2024; 94:1569-1577. [PMID: 38873960 DOI: 10.1111/ans.19119] [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: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appendicitis is the commonest paediatric surgical emergency. Adult studies suggest non-operative management (NOM) may have a place in care. There have been no adequately powered randomized controlled trials in children. OBJECTIVE to determine the safety and efficacy of NOM for paediatric simple appendicitis. METHODS A non-inferiority randomized controlled trial was conducted comparing operative (OM) to NOM of SA in children aged five-15 years. Primary outcome was treatment success (no unplanned or unnecessary operation, or complication) at 30 days and 12 months, with a non-inferiority margin of 15%. (anzctr.org.au: ACTRN12616000788471). RESULTS From 11 June 2016 to 30 November 2020, 222 children were randomized: 94 (42.34%) to OM and 128 (57.66%) to NOM. Non-inferiority of NOM was not demonstrated at either time point, with 45.67% of NOM patients subsequently undergoing operation. There was no significant difference in complications. CONCLUSIONS While noninferiority was not shown, NOM was safe, with no difference in adverse outcomes between the two groups. Further research to refine the place of NOM of simple appendicitis in children is required, including nuanced patient selection, longer term evaluation, the place of choice, and the acceptability of the treatment for children and their carers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Elizabeth Adams
- Toby Bowring Department of Paediatric Surgery, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Meegodage Roshell Swindri Perera
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Saskia Fung
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jordon Maxton
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jonathan Karpelowsky
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Decker E, Ndzi A, Kenny S, Harwood R. Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Compare the Short- and Long-term Outcomes of Non-operative Management With Early Operative Management of Simple Appendicitis in Children After the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Pediatr Surg 2024; 59:1050-1057. [PMID: 38158255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-operative management (NOM) of simple appendicitis is becoming an increasingly researched treatment option. This systematic review aims to describe the short and long-term failure rates of NOM and the complication rate of appendicectomy in children with simple appendicitis. METHODS The systematic review was registered a priori (CRD42022322149). Study inclusion criteria are: participants aged ≤ 18 years of age; groups undergoing both NOM and appendicectomy for simple appendicitis; outcomes including one or more of: NOM failure rate at 30 days or 1 year and beyond; study design: RCT or case control study. Four databases were searched and 3 reviewers determined study eligibility and data extraction. Risk of bias was assessed and meta-analysis was performed using Stata. RESULTS The database search identified 2731 articles, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria; 4 RCTs and 10 case controlled studies. All studies had moderate-serious risk of bias. There were no deaths in either group in any study. Meta-analysis demonstrated a 30 day failure rate of 20 % (95 % CI 11-29 %) and 11 studies reported failure rate at 1 year or beyond at 32 % (95 % CI 25-38 %). Rates of significant complications of appendicectomy was 1 % (95 % CI 0-1 %). CONCLUSIONS Non-operative management of simple appendicitis in children is safe, with moderate early success. The failure rate increases over time, resulting in eventual appendicectomy in a third of the children diagnosed with appendicitis. These data will enable clinicians to have an informed discussion with children and their parents about their treatment options for simple appendicitis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Decker
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Agnes Ndzi
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Simon Kenny
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK; ISMIB, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Children and Young People Transformation Programme, NHSE/I, UK
| | - Rachel Harwood
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK; ISMIB, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Children and Young People Transformation Programme, NHSE/I, UK.
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Kumar SS, Collings AT, Lamm R, Haskins IN, Scholz S, Nepal P, Train AT, Athanasiadis DI, Pucher PH, Bradley JF, Hanna NM, Quinteros F, Narula N, Slater BJ. SAGES guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis. Surg Endosc 2024; 38:2974-2994. [PMID: 38740595 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-024-10813-y] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appendicitis is an extremely common disease with a variety of medical and surgical treatment approaches. A multidisciplinary expert panel was convened to develop evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians and patients in decisions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis. METHODS A systematic review was conducted from 2010 to 2022 to answer 8 key questions relating to the diagnosis of appendicitis, operative or nonoperative management, and specific technical and post-operative issues for appendectomy. The results of this systematic review were then presented to a panel of adult and pediatric surgeons. Evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the GRADE methodology by subject experts. RESULTS Conditional recommendations were made in favor of uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis being managed operatively, either delayed (>12h) or immediate operation (<12h), either suction and lavage or suction alone, no routine drain placement, treatment with short-term antibiotics postoperatively for complicated appendicitis, and complicated appendicitis previously treated nonoperatively undergoing interval appendectomy. A conditional recommendation signals that the benefits of adhering to a recommendation probably outweigh the harms although it does also indicate uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS These recommendations should provide guidance with regard to current controversies in appendicitis. The panel also highlighted future research opportunities where the evidence base can be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunjay S Kumar
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amelia T Collings
- Hiram C. Polk, Jr Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ryan Lamm
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ivy N Haskins
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Stefan Scholz
- Division of General and Thoracic Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Pramod Nepal
- Division of Colon & Rectal Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Arianne T Train
- Department of Surgery, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, PA, USA
| | | | - Philip H Pucher
- School of Pharmacy and Biosciences, University of Portsmouth & Department of General Surgery, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Joel F Bradley
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nader M Hanna
- Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Francisco Quinteros
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA
| | - Nisha Narula
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Bethany J Slater
- University of Chicago Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 4062, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Faitna P, Harwood R, Kenny SE, Viner RM, Aylin PP, Hargreaves DS, Bottle A. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical management trends for acute appendicitis among the under-25s: a retrospective study. Arch Dis Child 2024; 109:339-346. [PMID: 38325911 PMCID: PMC10958286 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326313] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on acute appendicitis management on children and young people (CYP). DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING All English National Health Service hospitals. PATIENTS Acute appendicitis admissions (all, simple, complex) by CYP (under-5s, 5-9s, 10-24s). EXPOSURE Study pandemic period: February 2020-March 2021. Comparator pre-pandemic period: February 2015-January 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Monthly appendicectomy and laparoscopic appendicectomy rate trends and absolute differences between pandemic month and the pre-pandemic average. Proportions of appendicitis admissions comprising complex appendicitis by hospital with or without specialist paediatric centres were compared. RESULTS 101 462 acute appendicitis admissions were analysed. Appendicectomy rates fell most in April 2020 for the 5-9s (-18.4% (95% CI -26.8% to -10.0%)) and 10-24s (-28.4% (-38.9% to -18.0%)), driven by reductions in appendicectomies for simple appendicitis. This was equivalent to -54 procedures (-68.4 to -39.6) and -512 (-555.9 to -467.3) for the 5-9s and 10-24s, respectively. Laparoscopic appendicectomies fell in April 2020 for the 5-9s (-15.5% (-23.2% to -7.8%)) and 10-24s (-44.8% (-57.9% to -31.6%) across all types, which was equivalent to -43 (-56.1 to 30.3) and -643 (-692.5 to -593.1) procedures for the 5-9s and 10-24s, respectively. A larger proportion of complex appendicitis admissions were treated within trusts with specialist paediatric centres during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS For CYP across English hospitals, a sharp recovery followed a steep reduction in appendicectomy rates in April 2020, due to concerns with COVID-19 transmission. This builds on smaller-sized studies reporting the immediate short-term impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puji Faitna
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel Harwood
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
| | - Simon E Kenny
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
- National Clinical Director for Children and Young People, NHS England and NHS Improvement, London, UK
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Russell M Viner
- Population, Policy and Practice Research Programme, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Paul P Aylin
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Dougal S Hargreaves
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alex Bottle
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Lamm R, Kumar SS, Collings AT, Haskins IN, Abou-Setta A, Narula N, Nepal P, Hanna NM, Athanasiadis DI, Scholz S, Bradley JF, Train AT, Pucher PH, Quinteros F, Slater B. Diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis: systematic review and meta-analysis. Surg Endosc 2023; 37:8933-8990. [PMID: 37914953 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-023-10456-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The optimal diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis remains controversial. This systematic review details the evidence and current best practices for the evaluation and management of uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis in adults and children. METHODS Eight questions regarding the diagnosis and management of appendicitis were formulated. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane and clinicaltrials.gov/NLM were queried for articles published from 2010 to 2022 with key words related to at least one question. Randomized and non-randomized studies were included. Two reviewers screened each publication for eligibility and then extracted data from eligible studies. Random effects meta-analyses were performed on all quantitative data. The quality of randomized and non-randomized studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 or Newcastle Ottawa Scale, respectively. RESULTS 2792 studies were screened and 261 were included. Most had a high risk of bias. Computerized tomography scan yielded the highest sensitivity (> 80%) and specificity (> 93%) in the adult population, although high variability existed. In adults with uncomplicated appendicitis, non-operative management resulted in higher odds of readmission (OR 6.10) and need for operation (OR 20.09), but less time to return to work/school (SMD - 1.78). In pediatric patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, non-operative management also resulted in higher odds of need for operation (OR 38.31). In adult patients with complicated appendicitis, there were higher odds of need for operation following antibiotic treatment only (OR 29.00), while pediatric patients had higher odds of abscess formation (OR 2.23). In pediatric patients undergoing appendectomy for complicated appendicitis, higher risk of reoperation at any time point was observed in patients who had drains placed at the time of operation (RR 2.04). CONCLUSIONS This review demonstrates the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis remains nuanced. A personalized approach and appropriate patient selection remain key to treatment success. Further research on controversies in treatment would be useful for optimal management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Lamm
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sunjay S Kumar
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Thomas Jefferson University, 1015 Walnut Street, 613 Curtis, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
| | - Amelia T Collings
- Hiram C. Polk, Jr Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ivy N Haskins
- Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ahmed Abou-Setta
- Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Nisha Narula
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Pramod Nepal
- Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nader M Hanna
- Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stefan Scholz
- Division of General and Thoracic Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joel F Bradley
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Arianne T Train
- Department of Surgery, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, PA, USA
| | - Philip H Pucher
- Department of Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Francisco Quinteros
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA
| | - Bethany Slater
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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Chorozoglou M, Reading I, Eaton S, Naqvi S, Pardy C, Sloan K, Major C, Demellweek N, Hall NJ. Assessing micro- vs macro-costing approaches for treating appendicitis in children with appendicectomy or non-operatively. Qual Life Res 2023; 32:2987-2999. [PMID: 37286916 PMCID: PMC10473981 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-023-03442-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We conducted a health economic sub-study within a feasibility RCT comparing a non-operative treatment pathway as an alternative to appendicectomy for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children. The objectives were to understand and assess data collection tools and methods and to determine indicative costs and benefits assessing the feasibility of conducting a full economic evaluation within the definitive trial. METHODS We compared different methods of estimating treatment costs including micro-costing, hospital administrative data (PLICS) and health system (NHS) reference costs. We compared two different HRQoL instruments (CHU-9D and EQ-5D-5L) in terms of data completeness and sensitivity to change over time, including potential ceiling effects. We also explored how the timing of data collection and duration of the analysis could affect QALYs (Quality Adjusted Life Years) and the results of the cost-utility analysis (CUA) within the future RCT. RESULTS Using a micro-costing approach, the total per treatment costs were in alignment with hospital administrative data (PLICS). Average health system reference cost data (macro-costing using NHS costs) could potentially underestimate these treatment costs, particularly for non-operative treatment. Costs incurred following hospital discharge in the primary care setting were minimal, and limited family borne costs were reported by parents/carers. While both HRQoL instruments performed relatively well, our results highlight the problem of ceiling effect and the importance of the timing of data collection and the duration of the analysis in any future assessment using QALYs and CUA. CONCLUSIONS We highlighted the importance of obtaining accurate individual-patient cost data when conducting economic evaluations. Our results suggest that timing of data collection and duration of the assessment are important considerations when evaluating cost-effectiveness and reporting cost per QALY. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15830435.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Reading
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Simon Eaton
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Shehryer Naqvi
- St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Caroline Pardy
- St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Keren Sloan
- Southampton Children’s Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | | | | | - Nigel J. Hall
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Southampton Children’s Hospital, Southampton, UK
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Alsulaimani N, Alotaibi R, Almasoudi R, Alamoudi R, Alsharif S, Alawi A. Parental Knowledge of Appendicitis and Its Management Options Among Children of Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15:e47928. [PMID: 38034265 PMCID: PMC10684831 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47928] [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] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite decades of studies, appendicitis in children still presents several uncertainties regarding optimal treatment. OBJECTIVES To assess parental understanding of appendicitis, along with its risks and treatment, and to determine attitudes to operative and non-operative treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study. The current study has targeted all parents who visited the pediatric outpatient departments or clinics at three different hospitals in Makkah and Jeddah City, including Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH) in Makkah, King Fahad Armed Force Hospital (KFAFH), and Saudi German Private Hospital (SGH) in Jeddah. Data was collected via an online Google form and was analyzed by using SPSS. RESULTS A total of 408 subjects were involved in this study. The majority of them were females (74.5%); 25.5% were males. Most of the study participants aged between 25 and 34 years. Our results found that the average knowledge score of the study population was 4.1±1.81 out of 11. Only 23.5% of them had good knowledge about appendicitis. More than half of the respondents identified the appendix as a part of the digestive system and most of the study population were aware of the current treatment for appendicitis, which is surgery (80.9%). Female participants and respondents who knew someone that has been treated for appendicitis were significantly associated with a better level of knowledge about appendicitis (P-values: 0.011 and 0.033, respectively). Moreover, we found that educational level significantly influenced preference for treatment with antibiotics and surgery if appendicitis happened again (P-value: 0.049). CONCLUSION The study population had poor knowledge of appendicitis and its management options. The highlighted criteria of self-reported relevance to parents should be addressed in all appendicitis counseling and consent. We advocate for the establishment of national public awareness campaigns, as well as increased research and clinical trials. Understanding lay views of treatment alternatives and efficacy will influence future approaches to appendicitis therapy by analyzing the community's preference for emerging treatment modalities and identifying future directions for patient-centered clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruba Alotaibi
- Department of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
| | | | - Renad Alamoudi
- Department of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
| | - Sarah Alsharif
- Department of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, SAU
| | - Ahmed Alawi
- Pediatric Surgery, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, SAU
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Xu H, Yang S, Xing J, Wang Y, Sun W, Rong L, Liu H. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of antibiotic treatment and appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Surg 2023; 23:208. [PMID: 37488583 PMCID: PMC10367319 DOI: 10.1186/s12893-023-02108-1] [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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of antibiotic treatment and appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. METHODS We searched the randomized controlled studies (RCTs) comparing appendectomy with antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in the electronic database including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang. The primary outcomes included complication-free treatment success at 1 year, complications, surgical complications, and the complicated appendicitis rates. Secondary outcomes included negative appendicitis, length of hospital stay, the quality of life at 1 month, and the impact of an appendicolith on antibiotic therapy. RESULTS Twelve randomized controlled studies were included. Compared with surgery group, the antibiotic group decreased the complication-free treatment success at 1 year (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.73-0.91; z = 3.65; p = 0.000). Statistically significance was existed between antibiotic group and surgical group with both surgical types(open and laparoscopic) (RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.31-0.58; z = 5.36; p = 0.000), while no between the antibiotic treatment and laparoscopic surgery (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.41-1.24; z = 1.19; p = 0.236). There was no statistically significant differences between two groups of surgical complications (RR 1.38; 95% CI 0.70-2.73; z = 0.93; p = 0.353), the complicated appendicitis rate (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.36-1.42; z = 0.96; p = 0.338), negative appendectomy rate (RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.69-1.79; z = 0.43; p = 0.670), duration of hospital stay (SMD 0.08; 95%CI -0.11-0.27; z = 0.80; p = 0.422), and quality of life at 1 month (SMD 0.09; 95%CI -0.03-0.20; z = 1.53; p = 0.127). However, in the antibiotic treatment group, appendicolith rates were statistically higher in those whose symptoms did not improve (RR 2.94; 95% CI 1.28-6.74; z = 2.55; p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS Although the cure rate of antibiotics is lower than surgery, antibiotic treatment is still a reasonable option for patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis who do not want surgery without having to worry about complications or complicating the original illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Xu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Shaohui Yang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jiankun Xing
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Weiqiang Sun
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingyan Rong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Huihui Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
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9
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Hall NJ, Sherratt FC, Eaton S, Walker E, Chorozoglou M, Beasant L, Stanton M, Corbett H, Rex D, Hutchings N, Dixon E, Crawley E, Blazeby J, Young B, Reading I. Patient-centred outcomes following non-operative treatment or appendicectomy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children. BMJ Paediatr Open 2023; 7:10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001673. [PMID: 36746524 PMCID: PMC9906255 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
While non-operative treatment has emerged as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children, comparative patient-centred outcomes are not well documented. We investigated these in a feasibility randomised trial. Of 57 randomised participants, data were available for 26. Compared with appendicectomy, children allocated to non-operative treatment reported higher short-term quality of life scores, shorter duration of requiring analgesia, more rapid return to normal activities and shorter parental absence from work. These preliminary data suggest differences exist in recovery profile and quality of life between these treatments that are important to measure in a larger RCT. Trial registration number is ISRCTN15830435.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel J Hall
- University Surgery Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | - Frances C Sherratt
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Simon Eaton
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Erin Walker
- Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Maria Chorozoglou
- Southampton Health Technology Assessment Centre, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, UK
| | - Lucy Beasant
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael Stanton
- Department of Paediatric Surgery and Urology, Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | - Harriet Corbett
- Department of Surgery, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Dean Rex
- Paediatric Surgery, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Natalie Hutchings
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Elizabeth Dixon
- Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Esther Crawley
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jane Blazeby
- Bristol and Weston Biomedical Research Centre, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Bridget Young
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Isabel Reading
- Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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Abstract
Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies in children and adults. Appendectomy as the standard care has been challenged in the recent years with growing evidence about non-operative treatment as a potential primary treatment in patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis. This review aims to establish where the recent research stands regarding conservative treatment of acute appendicitis, especially in children. There are several studies that report the potential safety and efficacy of treating acute appendicitis non-operatively. Several studies have challenged the concept of acute appendicitis being a progressive disease that always ends in perforation, rather than a disease that can present as different forms with only a defined number of cases progressing to perforation. The lack of randomized controlled studies is a limitation and well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the role of non-operative management of acute appendicitis in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soma Jumah
- Unit of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Wester
- Unit of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden ,Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Parental Knowledge of Appendicitis and Preference for Operative or Non-Operative Treatment at a United Kingdom Children’s Hospital. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9081191. [PMID: 36010083 PMCID: PMC9406866 DOI: 10.3390/children9081191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Appendicitis is a common cause of abdominal pain in children, and is the most common reason for children to undergo emergency abdominal surgery. To guide our research program in this field, we aimed to determine parental understanding with regard to appendicitis and its treatment. We also wished to assess parental preference for non-operative or surgical treatment of children with uncomplicated appendicitis. We asked parents attending a children’s outpatient clinic to complete a brief questionnaire that was interspersed with educational content to rectify any knowledge gaps. A total of 396 parents (of 414 approached) agreed to participate. There were gaps in parental knowledge, including not knowing where the appendix is located (one-third of respondents), not knowing what appendicitis is (40% of respondents), and underestimating the incidence of appendicitis. Parents typically overestimated the risks of complications and dying from both uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis. There was no influence of gender, age, or previous experience of appendicitis on these findings. When presented with the scenario of equal effectiveness of non-operative treatment and surgery for uncomplicated appendicitis, 59% of respondents expressed a preference for non-operative treatment over surgery, while 21% expressed a preference for surgery (20% expressed no preference). These findings are important for clinicians and researchers when discussing appendicitis and treatment options with families, and justify ongoing research into the comparative effectiveness of non-operative treatment and surgery.
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Patel M, Thomas JJ, Sarwary H. We can reduce negative paediatric appendicectomy rate: A cohort study. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2021; 71:102901. [PMID: 34691444 PMCID: PMC8517710 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appendicitis accounts for the most frequent surgical emergencies in childhood. The guidance from the Royal College of Surgeons and poor post operative outcomes in surgical patients during the pandemic, it would be expected that only children who had clinical signs of appendicitis and were unwell, would have undergone surgery. Hence, the negative appendicectomy rate during the pandemic should have decreased.The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the rate of negative appendicectomy amongst children <16 years of age during the first wave of the pandemic, from the announcement of the lockdown and determine if there was a true difference by comparing the rate with the same time period in 2019. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data of all children aged<16 years who were operated for appendicitis between 23/3/2020 and 30/06/2020 was collected retrospectively and compared with that of children operated during the same time period in 2019 for the rate of negative appendicectomy.Data were analysed using the two-tailed t-test for continuous data and χ2 or Fishers exact tests for categorical data with p value of <0.05 considered significant. RESULTS Twenty three paediatric patients presenting with acute appendicitis underwent appendicectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic and 35 patients during 2019.Overall 17.39% patients underwent laparoscopic appendicectomy in 2020 while 54.29% in 2019. The negative appendicectomy rate was zero during the pandemic while it was 17.14% in 2019. There was no difference in the median length of hospital stay during the two time periods. There was no significant difference in complication or re-admission rate. CONCLUSION This study has the lowest reported incidence of negative appendicectomy rate during the pandemic following wider use of pre operative imaging and early senior involvement in decision making. The increased number of complicated appendicitis during the pandemic did not translate to worse clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitreyi Patel
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's and King George's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust, United Kingdom
| | - Joel Joy Thomas
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's and King George's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust, United Kingdom
| | - Haschmatullah Sarwary
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's and King George's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust, United Kingdom
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Parental Views on the Non-Operative Management of Simple Appendicitis in Children: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey. World J Surg 2021; 46:274-287. [PMID: 34557942 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-021-06305-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine parental attitudes for the non-operative management of simple appendicitis and determine willingness to participate in research evaluating different management options. METHOD Voluntary cross-sectional survey of parents/guardians presenting to paediatric outpatient department. Likert scale of 0-10 (strongly disagree-strongly agree) was utilised, analysis by individual question responses. Results are presented as medians [IQR], paired t test, the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test analysis as appropriate. A p value of < 0.05 is considered significant. RESULTS Of 311 respondents, 81% (252/311) completed all the questions. The majority (73%, 220/303) believed that appendicitis needed an urgent operation, and 88% (264/299) believed that perforated appendicitis was a life-threatening condition. Fifty-two per cent (131/252) preferred operative management, and 48% (121/252) preferred antibiotic treatment. The most important factors influencing treatment choice were removal of pain (84%, 246/293), removal of infection (83%, 244/293) and minimising complications (54%, 162/293). Concerns regarding antibiotic treatment included the potential for recurrence (75%, 204/271), the risk of progression (63%, 170/271) and the potential of future surgery (53%, 145/271). The perceived beneficial factors of antibiotic treatment included avoiding surgery, 64% (173/269) and surgical complications 68% (184/269). When asked to consider whether they would participate in clinical research evaluating the two treatment options, parents were equally in favour (39%), against (26%) or unsure (35%). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates equipoise in the parental acceptance of antibiotics as a treatment simple appendicitis in children, or participation in research evaluating this topic. However, the important factors that may influence this decision have been identified to guide future conversations.
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