A Nationwide Cohort Study of Outcome after Pediatric Appendicitis.

INTRODUCTION: Children with appendicitis often present with complicated disease. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical management of pediatric appendicitis, and to report how disease severity and operative modality are associated with short- and long-term risks of adverse outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nationwide retrospective cohort study of all Swedish children (<18 years) diagnosed with appendicitis, 2001 to 2014 (n = 38,939). Primary and secondary outcomes were length of stay, surgical site infections, readmissions, 30-day mortality, and long-term risk of surgery for small bowel obstruction (SBO). Implications of complicated disease and operative modality were assessed with adjustment for age, gender, and trends over time. RESULTS: Complicated appendicitis was associated with longer hospital stay (4 vs. 2 days, p < 0.001), increased risk of surgical site infection (5.9 vs. 2.3%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.64 [95% confidence interval, CI: 2.18-3.18], p < 0.001), readmission (5.5 vs. 1.2, aOR: 4.74 [95% CI: 4.08-5.53], p < 0.001), as well as long-term risk of surgery for SBO (0.7 vs. 0.2%, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 3.89 [95% CI: 2.61-5.78], p < 0.001). Intended laparoscopic approach was associated with reduced risk of surgical site infections (2.3 vs. 3.1%, aOR: 0.74 [95% CI: 0.62-0.89], p = 0.001), but no overall reduction in risk for SBO; however, successful laparoscopic appendectomy was associated with less SBO during follow-up compared with open appendectomy (aHR: 0.27 [95% CI: 0.11-0.63], p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Children treated for complicated appendicitis are at risk of substantial short- and long-term morbidities. Fewer surgical site infections were seen after intended laparoscopic appendectomy, compared with open appendectomy, also when converted procedures were accounted for.

Duplicación del apéndice vermiforme. Reporte de caso / Vermiform appendix duplication - case report

Dar a conocer una presentación inusual de una patología frecuente. Se presenta caso de paciente masculino de 27 años con cuadro clínico de apendicitis aguda. Se realiza apendicetomía abierta en la cual se identifican dos apéndices vermiformes. Se confirma el diagnóstico por medio de anatomía patología, una con apendicitis aguda perforada y otra con peri-apendicitis. Es importante el conocimiento de esta patología para que se pueda reconocer y evitar errores de juicio durante el procedimiento quirúrgico y futuras complicaciones para el paciente. (AU)

Report an unusual presentation of a common pathology. A case of a 27-year-old male with a clinical picture of acute appendicitis is presented. An open appendectomy is performed in which two vermiform appendages are identified. The diagnosis is confirmed by pathology, one with perforated acute appendicitis and the other with peri-appendicitis. Knowledge of this pathology is important so that errors of judgment can be recognized and avoided during the surgical procedure and future complications for the patient. (AU)

REsiDENT 1 (Re-assessment of Appendicitis Evaluation during laparoscopic appendectomy: Do we End a Non-standardized Treatment approach and habit?): peritoneal irrigation during laparoscopic appendectomy-does the grade of contamination matter? A prospective multicenter resident-based evaluation of a new classification system.

Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy has progressively gained acceptance as the standard of care for acute appendicitis. Focusing on the incidence of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess after a laparoscopic appendectomy, discordant data have been reported ranging from 1.5 to 20%. Besides, evidence advocating advantages from peritoneal irrigation over suction only are lacking. Most studies are burdened by a high level of heterogeneity regarding the severity of the appendicitis and modalities of peritoneal irrigation. One of the main drawbacks is the lack of an accepted classification for different degrees of appendicitis and peritoneal contamination. The aim of the study is to introduce a classification to clarify the relationship between grade of appendicitis, contamination, and postoperative incidence of IAA considering the surgeon's attitude toward irrigation or suction alone. Preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative predictive factors for infectious complication will also be assessed. This study is meant to be the first Italian multicenter resident-based observational study. Methods: Patients suffering from acute appendicitis will be enrolled during a 1-year period, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants will fill an online form reporting all clinical and intra-operative data of each patient undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy. General surgery residents will be responsible for data collection. Our proposal of classification is based on the histological grade of appendicitis and intra-operative degree of peritoneal contamination. For each grade, a progressively increasing score is assigned. Discussion: The observational nature of this study is mandatory to examine surgeons' attitude toward peritoneal contamination during laparoscopic appendectomy for appendicitis. Identification of different severity grades of acute appendicitis and their relationship with the development of postoperative abscesses is necessary. The resulting classification and score, even considering peritoneal lavage or suction alone, will define risk classes of peri-appendiceal contamination each one related to a specific incidence rate of postoperative IAA. Nowadays, maximum effort should be made to reach the best procedural standardization and surgical decision-making should be supported by solid evidence, especially in an emergency surgery setting.

Abcesos intra-abdominales post-apendicectomia en el Hospital Pablo Arturo Suárez 1990-1995

Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo, en el que se analiza los pacientes que fueron diagnosticados de absceso intra-abdominal postapendicectomía (AIPA), en el Hospital Pablo Arturo Suárez, entre enero de 1990 a diciembre de 1995. El 2.25 por ciento de los pacientes apendicectomizados, tuvieron AIPA. La perforación y la gangrena apendicular fueron observadas en el 91.7 por ciento de los casos con AIPA. El promedio de horas transcurridas entre el ingreso del paciente a emergencia y la cirugía fue de 14,25 horas, rango 3-45 horas. La fosa ilíaca derecha fue la localización más frecuente de AIPA (50 por ciento). El 66.7 por ciento de los pacientes con AIPA se sometieron a drenaje quirúrgico del absceso más antibiotico-terapia. Nos se observó mortalidad en este grupo de estudio. El cirujano debe desarrollar su criterio diagnóstico, para identificar pacientes en riesgo de AIPA y dar celeridad en el tratamiento quirúrgico d este tipo de paciente...

How many days of hospitalization for an appendectomy?

The length of stay (LOS) of a surgical procedure is influenced both by the real need for medical and nursing care of the patient and also by the practice style of each unit, which can include unjustified stays. The aim of this work was to estimate the appropriate LOS for appendectomy and its differences with the LOS observed in practice. Two hundred and forty-nine medical records (249 admission days and 1447 successive stays) for patients over 6 years old who had had an appendectomy in 1992 were classified by Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) and reviewed using the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. 1.6% of admission days and 31.7% of successive stays were assessed inappropriate. The appropriate LOS for appendectomy was 4.7 days as opposed to 6.8 days of observed LOS. For the DRG 167 (76.3% of the sample) appropriate LOS was 3.4 days (observed LOS 4.9 days). These results suggest the existence of an important proportion of avoidable hospital stays and provides a simple and low cost methodology for assessing the suitability of local hospitalization practices.