Augusto Zani1,2, Nigel J Hall3, Abidur Rahman1, Francesco Morini4, Alessio Pini Prato5, Florian Friedmacher6, Antti Koivusalo7, Ernest van Heurn8, Agostino Pierro1,2. 1. Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom. 4. Department of Medical and Surgical Neonatology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. 5. Pediatric Surgery, The Children Hospital, AON SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. 6. Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Royal London Hospital, London, United Kingdom. 7. Section of Pediatric Surgery, Children‧s Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 8. Emma Children‧s Hospital AMC and VU University Medical Center, Paediatric Surgical Center of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
AIM: To define patterns in the management of pediatric appendicitis. METHODS: A total of 169 delegates from 42 (24 European) countries completed a validated survey administered at the EUPSA 2017 annual congress. RESULTS: In the work-up of children with suspected acute appendicitis, most surgeons rely on full blood count (92%), C-reactive protein (82%), and abdominal ultrasonography (76%), but rarely on computed tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging. In suspected simple appendicitis, most surgeons (76%) do not perform appendectomy at night in clinically stable patients and start antibiotic preoperatively (64%), but only 15% offer antibiotic therapy alone (no appendectomy). In suspected perforated appendicitis, 96% start antibiotic preoperatively, and 92% perform an appendectomy. Presence of phlegmon/abscess is the main contraindication to immediate surgery. In case of appendix mass, most responders (75%) favor a conservative approach and perform interval appendectomy always (56%) or in selected cases (38%) between 2 and 6 months from the first episode (81%). Children with large intraperitoneal abscesses are managed by percutaneous drainage (59% responders) and by surgery (37% responders). Laparoscopy is the preferred surgical approach for both simple (89%) and perforated appendicitis (81%). Most surgeons send the appendix for histology (96%) and pus for microbiology, if present (78%). At the end of the operation, 58% irrigate the abdominal cavity only if contaminated using saline solution (93%). In selected cases, 52% leave a drain in situ. CONCLUSION: Some aspects of appendicitis management lack consensus, particularly appendix mass and intraperitoneal abscess. Evidence-based guidelines should be developed, which may help standardize care and improve clinical outcomes. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
AIM: To define patterns in the management of pediatric appendicitis. METHODS: A total of 169 delegates from 42 (24 European) countries completed a validated survey administered at the EUPSA 2017 annual congress. RESULTS: In the work-up of children with suspected acute appendicitis, most surgeons rely on full blood count (92%), C-reactive protein (82%), and abdominal ultrasonography (76%), but rarely on computed tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging. In suspected simple appendicitis, most surgeons (76%) do not perform appendectomy at night in clinically stable patients and start antibiotic preoperatively (64%), but only 15% offer antibiotic therapy alone (no appendectomy). In suspected perforated appendicitis, 96% start antibiotic preoperatively, and 92% perform an appendectomy. Presence of phlegmon/abscess is the main contraindication to immediate surgery. In case of appendix mass, most responders (75%) favor a conservative approach and perform interval appendectomy always (56%) or in selected cases (38%) between 2 and 6 months from the first episode (81%). Children with large intraperitoneal abscesses are managed by percutaneous drainage (59% responders) and by surgery (37% responders). Laparoscopy is the preferred surgical approach for both simple (89%) and perforated appendicitis (81%). Most surgeons send the appendix for histology (96%) and pus for microbiology, if present (78%). At the end of the operation, 58% irrigate the abdominal cavity only if contaminated using saline solution (93%). In selected cases, 52% leave a drain in situ. CONCLUSION: Some aspects of appendicitis management lack consensus, particularly appendix mass and intraperitoneal abscess. Evidence-based guidelines should be developed, which may help standardize care and improve clinical outcomes. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.