Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis Research Articles

Adherence to General Medical Council guidance regarding disclosure of alternative treatments during the consent process.

General Medical Council (GMC) guidelines dictate that reasonable alternatives to treatment should be disclosed during the consent process. We aimed to determine whether GMC guidelines on disclosure of alternatives during consent are being followed in a real-world example which is disclosure of non-operative management as an alternative to appendicectomy in uncomplicated paediatric appendicitis. We undertook a retrospective single-centre observational study and national consultant specialist paediatric surgeon survey. Two groups of 50 consecutively treated children (<16 years) with acute uncomplicated appendicitis were included in the observational study during two periods. UK-based consultant surgeons who treat appendicitis were included in the national survey. The main outcomes were disclosure and use of non-operative management (NOM) as an alternative to appendicectomy. Overall, in the observational study, NOM was disclosed in 30 (30%) children and 77% (23/30) opted for this treatment method when it was disclosed. There were 83 survey respondents representing all 25 eligible specialist paediatric surgery centres. Ten (12%) consultants reported routinely offering NOM, 39 (47%) offer it in select circumstances, and 34 (41%) never offer NOM. Only 25 (30%) respondents always disclose NOM as an alternative to appendicectomy, whereas 22 (27%) never do. Consultants who never disclose NOM are more likely to prefer appendicectomy over NOM compared with those who always disclose it (p<0.001). In this illustrative clinical scenario, observed and reported practice regarding disclosure of alternative treatments during the consent process do not meet GMC guidance. This risks depriving children and caregivers of a choice that they are entitled to.

THE EFFICACY OF ANTIBIOTICS IN ACUTE APPENDICITIS TREATMENT : A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: Acute appendicitis has been the most common cause of lower abdominal pain leading to emergency visits worldwide. To avoid major complications, appendectomy has remained the standard treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis for over a century. The aim: The aim of this study to show about the efficacy of antibiotics in acute appendicitis treatment. Methods: By the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020, this study was able to show that it met all of the requirements. This search approach, publications that came out between 2014 and 2024 were taken into account. Several different online reference sources, like Pubmed, SagePub, and Sciencedirect were used to do this. It was decided not to take into account review pieces, works that had already been published, or works that were only half done. Result: Five publications were found to be directly related to our ongoing systematic examination after a rigorous three-level screening approach. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis of the complete text was conducted, and additional scrutiny was given to these articles. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of antibiotics and appendicectomy were comparable for the treatment of acute appendicitis.

Interval Appendectomy After Successful Antibiotic Treatment?

This Viewpoint discusses the pros and cons of performing interval appendectomy in patients who have recovered from successful antibiotic treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis.

Diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 for overall and complicated acute appendicitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 in acute appendicitis (AA). This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023450988). We included prospective and retrospective original clinical studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 in AA. A search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and OVID. Search terms and keywords were: (appendicitis OR appendectomy) AND (CA-125 OR CA125). Two independent reviewers selected the articles and extracted relevant data. Methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 index. A synthesis of the results, standardization of the metrics, and three random-effect meta-analyses were performed. Five studies with data from 533 participants (including 219 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AA and 107 controls) were included in this review. The random-effect meta-analysis of serum CA-125 (AA vs controls) included 3 articles (125 AA and 70 controls) and resulted in a non-significant mean difference [95% CI] of -6.80 [-20.51, 6.92] U/mL (p = 0.33). The meta-analysis by subgroups that included only male patients resulted in a significant mean difference [95% CI] of 3.48 [0.46, 6.49] U/mL (p = 0.02). Although serum CA-125 does not appear to be a good overall marker for the diagnosis of AA, our subgroup analyses show that this marker could be useful for diagnosing AA in males. It also appears to be a potentially useful tool for discriminating complicated and uncomplicated AA. However, the limited number of included studies precludes drawing generalizable conclusions. Future prospective studies focused on males and in its potential ability to discriminate between complicated and uncomplicatedAAare required.Registration. PROSPERO (CRD42023450988).

Three-Year Outcomes of Oral Antibiotics vs Intravenous and Oral Antibiotics for Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis

Current short-term evidence has shown that uncomplicated acute appendicitis can be treated successfully with oral antibiotics alone, but longer-term results are lacking. To assess the treatment effectiveness of oral antibiotic monotherapy compared with combined intravenous (IV) and oral antibiotics in computed tomography-confirmed uncomplicated acute appendicitis at a longer-term follow-up. This secondary analysis of a predefined year 3 follow-up of the Appendicitis Acuta II (APPAC II) noninferiority, multicenter randomized clinical trial compared oral moxifloxacin with combined IV ertapenem plus oral levofloxacin and metronidazole for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. The trial was conducted at 9 university and central hospitals in Finland from April 2017 to November 2018, with the last follow-up in November 2022. Participants included patients aged 18 to 60 years, who were randomized to receive either oral antibiotics monotherapy (n = 301) or combined IV and oral antibiotics (n = 298). Antibiotics monotherapy consisted of oral moxifloxacin, 400 mg/d, for 7 days. Combined IV and oral antibiotics consisted of IV ertapenem sodium, 1 g/d, for 2 days plus oral levofloxacin, 500 mg/d, and metronidazole, 500 mg 3 times/d, for 5 days. The primary end point was treatment success, defined as the resolution of acute appendicitis and discharge from hospital without the need for surgical intervention and no appendicitis recurrence at the year 3 follow-up evaluated using a noninferiority design. The secondary end points included late (after 1 year) appendicitis recurrence as well as treatment-related adverse events, quality of life, length of hospital stay, and length of sick leave, which were evaluated using a superiority design. After exclusions, 599 patients (mean [SD] age, 36 [12] years; 336 males [56.1%]) were randomized; after withdrawal and loss to follow-up, 582 patients (99.8%) were available for the year 3 follow-up. The treatment success at year 3 was 63.4% (1-sided 95% CI, 58.8% to ∞) in the oral antibiotic monotherapy group and 65.2% (1-sided 95% CI, 60.5% to ∞) in the combined IV and oral antibiotics group. The difference in treatment success rate between the groups at year 3 was -1.8 percentage points (1-sided 95% CI, -8.3 percentage points to ∞; P = .14 for noninferiority), with the CI limit exceeding the noninferiority margin. There were no significant differences between groups in treatment-related adverse events, quality of life, length of hospital stay, or length of sick leave. This secondary analysis of the APPAC II trial found a slightly higher appendectomy rate in patients who received oral antibiotic monotherapy; however, noninferiority of oral antibiotic monotherapy compared with combined IV and oral antibiotics could not be demonstrated. The results encourage future studies to assess oral antibiotic monotherapy as a viable treatment alternative for uncomplicated acute appendicitis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03236961.

The Predictive Value of Plasma Sodium and Other Laboratory Parameters in Determining Complicating Appendicitis in Children.

Finding a reliable preoperative predictor of complicated acute appendicitis (AA) has been a challenging diagnostic problem. The present study aimed to identify potential factors that may predict complicated AA in the pediatric emergency department (ED) based on routine, widely available laboratory tests on admission to the ED, including plasma sodium concentration. We retrospectively reviewed clinical and laboratory data of pediatric patients with AA who underwent emergency surgery at our department between January 2020 and December 2022. The patients were divided into two groups: histopathologically proven complicated AA (n = 80), and non-complicated AA (n = 155). Complicated AA was associated with reduced plasma sodium and chloride concentrations (p < 0.001, both), decreased values of lymphocytes (p = 0.002), elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) ( p < 0.001), elevated values of white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophils (p = 0.012 and 0.001, respectively). In binomial logistic regression, increased levels of CRP and WBC, and decreased levels of sodium were predictors of complicated AA. The area under the ROC curve was 0.825 (95% CI 0.764, 0.886). We identified mild hyponatremia and elevated CRP and WBC values as potential markers for distinguishing complicated from uncomplicated pediatric AA with implications for surgical approaches for treating complicated AA and conservative approaches for treating uncomplicated AA.

To Determine the Effectiveness of Conservative Treatment Versus Appendectomy in the Management of Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis.

Background: The vermiform appendix is considered to be a vestigial organ by the most. Its importance in surgery results only from its tendency for inflammation that results in a clinical syndrome known as acute appendicitis. It is the most common indication for emergency abdominal surgery in patients with acute abdomen with a crude annual incidence of 26 per 10,000 populations.Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of Conservative Treatment Versus appendectomy in the management of AcuteUncomplicated Appendicitis.Material and Methods: This randomized control trial was conducted in Department of General Surgery Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital Saidu sharif, from 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022. A total of 96 cases were enrolled, that were divided into two groups. Informed written consent was taken from each patient. Patients in Group A were subjected to non-operative management with antibiotics while patients in Group B were subjected to appendectomy. Patients in both groups were evaluated for various parameters such as age, gender, pre- and post-operative duration of pain (group B), Alvarado score. Post stratification chi-square test was applied keeping P Value &lt; 0.05 as significant. Results: Mean and SD for Age, Duration of Stay, Pre &amp; Post Treatment Abdominal Score and Pre and Post Treatment Alvarado Score in Group A was recorded as 35±10.60, 3.0±0.24, 7.0±0.49, 3.0±0.20, 9.0±0.41 and 3.0±1.62 respectively. In the same manner, Mean and SD for Group B was 35±12.53, 5.0±0.41, 7.0±0.35, 3.0±0.35, 3.0±0.20, 9.0±0.41, and 2.5±1.5, respectively. Success rate in Group A was 26 (52%) whereas in Group B it was 36 (72%) patients. Conclusion: Conservative treatment can be applied safely in the majority of cases of the first attack of uncomplicated acute appendicitis, therefore, avoiding appendectomy and its associated morbidity and mortality. Keywords: Acute appendicitis, Alvarado Score, Antibiotic treatment, Acute uncomplicated appendicitis, Success rate.

Optimizing antibiotic management for patients with acute appendicitis: A quality improvement study

BackgroundTo decrease surgical site infections after appendectomy for acute appendicitis, preoperative broad-spectrum antibiotics are often used in clinical practice. However, this treatment strategy has come under scrutiny because of increasing rates of antibiotic-resistant infections. MethodsThe aim of this multisite quality improvement project was to decrease the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis with piperacillin-tazobactam without increasing the rate of surgical site infections. Our quality improvement intervention had 2 distinct components: (1) updating electronic health record orders to encourage preoperative administration of narrow-spectrum antibiotics and (2) educating surgeons and emergency department clinicians about selecting appropriate antibiotic therapy for acute appendicitis. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were compared 6 months before and after implementation of the quality improvement intervention. ResultsA total of 352 laparoscopic appendectomies were performed during the 6-month preintervention period, and 369 were performed during the 6-month postintervention period. The preintervention period and postintervention period groups had similar baseline demographics, vital signs, and laboratory test values. The rate of preoperative piperacillin-tazobactam administration significantly decreased after the intervention (51.4% preintervention period vs 20.1% postintervention period, P < .001). The rate of surgical site infections was similar in both groups (superficial surgical site infections = 1.4% preintervention period vs 0.8% postintervention period, P = .50; deep surgical site infections = 1.1% preintervention period vs 0.0% postintervention period, P = .06; and organ space surgical site infections = 3.1% preintervention period vs 3.0% postintervention period, P > .99). Rates of 30-day readmission, reoperation, and Clostridioides difficile infection also did not differ between groups. ConclusionOur quality improvement intervention successfully decreased piperacillin-tazobactam administration without increasing the rate of surgical site infections in patients with acute appendicitis.

Modified endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy vs. laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children.

Modified endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (mERAT) has been proposed as an alternative to laparoscopic appendectomy for the treatment of appendicitis. However, data from children in large samples are lacking. The aim of this article is to evaluate the efficacy between mERAT and laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) in children with uncomplicated appendicitis. We retrospectively analyzed 594 patients with suspected uncomplicated appendicitis from October 2018 to May 2021. A pool of 294 consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were ultimately enrolled in this study (228 and 66 patients in mERAT and LA, respectively). Given the differences in baseline clinical data (gender, age), the regression equation including differences in clinical baseline, grouping factor, and white blood cell count was established to address the influence of potential confounding factors. The initial success rate of mERAT management was 96.9%, and the recurrence rate was 6.9% in the mERAT group and 1.7% in the LA group within 1 year, which was no significant difference. But the mERAT group had a lower rate of adverse events. Finally, those results indicated that the treatment modalities, LA or mERAT, had no significant effect on initial success rate (P = 0.99) or recurrence rate (P = 0.17) within 1 year, but a significant effect on the adverse events rate during hospitalization (P = 0.01) in the multivariate regression analysis. Among children with uncomplicated appendicitis, an initial mERAT management strategy had a success rate of 96.9%, which was similar to the LA group at 1 year. This follow-up supports the feasibility of mERAT alone as an alternative to surgery for uncomplicated appendicitis.

The Outcome of Laparoscopic Versus Open Appendectomy in Childhood.

Appendectomy in children is performed either lapa - roscopically (LA) or by open surgery (OA). We studied whether, and how, the outcome is affected by the technique used and by the intraoperative conversion of LA to OA. We analyzed routine data from children and adolescents in three age groups (1-5 years, 6-12 years, and 13-17 years) who were insured by the AOK statutory health insurance carrier in Germany and who underwent appendectomy in the period 2017-2019. General surgical complications and reoperations within 90 days were assessed with relevant indicators. Associations between the surgical technique and these indicators were studied with logistic regression. Of the 21 541 patients included in the study, general surgical complications were observed in 2.1% and reoperations in 1.8% overall. Broken down by age group, the corresponding figures were 5.4% and 4.4% (age 1 to 5), 2.5% and 1.8% (age 6 to 12), and 1.5% and 1.6% (age 13 to 17). The main risk factors for complications and reoperations were acute complicated appendicitis and conversion from LA to OA. Regression analysis revealed similar outcomes with OA compared to LA in the 1-to-5 age group, (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals: 1.1 [0.6; 2.1] for general surgical complications and 1.5 [0.8; 2.7] for reoperations), but worse outcomes with OA in the other two age groups (age 6 to 12: 1.9 [1.2; 2.9] and 2.1 [1.5; 2.9]; age 13 to 17: 1.7 [1.0; 2.9] and 2.2 [1.4; 3.6]). When conversions were assigned to the LA group, the odds ratio (OA compared to LA) for reoperation across all age groups was 3.5 [2.8; 4.4] in patients with acute uncomplicated appendicitis and 4.2 [3.4; 5.3] in patients with complicated appendicitis. Complicated appendicitis also increased the rate of general surgical complications and the length of stay in hospital. Among children in the two older age groups, LA was followed by fewer general surgical complications and reoperations than OA. These differences were less pronounced when conversions were counted as belonging to the LA group. Children aged 1-5 appear to benefit the least from the lapa - roscopic technique.

Conservative Versus Surgical Management of Acute Appendicitis: A Systematic Review.

Recent studies have discussed the role of antibiotic treatment in the conservative management of acute appendicitis and whether antibiotics are a safe option to replace appendicectomy, which has been the gold standard treatment of acute appendicitis for many years. The bibliographic databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane, Embase, Medline, and PubMed comparing conservative versus surgical treatment of acute appendicitis were systematically searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Twenty-one studies consisting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses involving 44,699 participants were identified. At least 17,865 participants were treated with antibiotics. Our studies compare antibiotic versus appendicectomy among acute appendicitis patients ranging from 7 to 94 years of age. In most studies, patients received parenteral antibiotics for a total of one to three days, and oral antibiotics such as oral cephalosporin plus metronidazole, oral amoxicillin/clavulanate, oral fluoroquinolones plus Tinidazole upon hospital discharge for a total of 7 to 10 days. The total course of antibiotics for both parenteral and oral regimes ranged from 2 to 16 days, with 10 days being the commonest duration. The recurrence rate following initial antibiotic treatment at one-year follow-up ranged from 13% to 38%, while the mean duration of recurrence ranged from three to eight months. The majority of the patients with recurrence underwent appendicectomy, while some patients were either given a repeat or different course of antibiotics due to the possible presence of antibiotic resistance; however, only 2.4% of the patients were successfully treated upon completion of the second course of antibiotics. Most of the studies concluded that appendicectomy remains the gold standard treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis, given its higher efficacy and lower complication rates. Although antibiotic treatment cannot be routinely recommended, it can be considered an appropriate alternative in selected patients with uncomplicated appendicitis who wish to avoid surgery and also acknowledge the risk of recurrence and the potential need for subsequent surgery at the same time.

Diagnostic accuracy of doctors at the emergency department and radiologists in differentiating between complicated and uncomplicated acute appendicitis.

To determine the accuracy of final judgements of doctors at the emergency department (ED) and radiologists to differentiate between complicated and uncomplicated acute appendicitis, because these have different treatment options. This prospective, multicenter study included adult patients with imaging-confirmed acute appendicitis, operated with intention to appendectomy. Both doctors at ED and radiologists assessed appendicitis severity as a final judgement of "uncomplicated" or "complicated" appendicitis. Doctors at ED integrated clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. Radiologists relied solely on imaging findings. Outcomes were accuracy of these judgements for diagnosis of complicated appendicitis compared to the reference standard by an adjudication committee. After imaging, 1070 patients with confirmed acute appendicitis were included. Doctors at ED accurately labelled 656 of 701 (93.6%) patients with true uncomplicated appendicitis as uncomplicated, and 163 of 369 (44.2%) patients with true complicated appendicitis were labelled as complicated. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) for complicated appendicitis were 44.2%, 93.6%, and 78.4% and 76.1%, respectively. Comparable accuracy was found for the radiologist's assessment in 941 patients, with true positive rates of 92.2% (581 of 630 patients) for uncomplicated appendicitis and 46.6% (145 of 311 patients) for complicated appendicitis. More than half of all patients with true complicated appendicitis is incorrectly classified as uncomplicated appendicitis according to the judgements of doctors at ED, integrating clinical, laboratory, and imaging results, and of radiologists assessing diagnostic imaging. These judgements are thereby not sufficiently reliable in ruling out complicated appendicitis.

Establishment and validation of nomogram prediction model for complicated acute appendicitis

Objective: To establish and internally validate a nomogram model for predicting complicated acute appendicitis (CA). Methods: The clinical data from 663 acute appendicitis patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2015 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 411 males and 252 females, aged (M (IQR)) 41 (22) years (range: 18 to 84 years). There were 516 cases of CA and 147 cases of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. The minimum absolute contraction and selection operator regression model was used to screen the potential relative factors of CA, and the screened factors were included in the Logistic regression model for multivariate analysis. Software R was used to establish a preoperative CA nomogram prediction model, the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was drawn, and the value of area under the curve (AUC) was compared to evaluate its identification ability, and the Bootstrap method was used for internal verification. Results: The elderly (age≥60 years) (OR=2.428, 95%CI: 1.295 to 4.549), abdominal pain time (every rise of 1 hour) (OR=1.089, 95%CI: 1.072 to 1.107), high fever (body temperature≥39 ℃) (OR=1.122, 95%CI: 1.078 to 1.168), total bilirubin (every rise of 1 μmol/L) (OR=2.629, 95%CI: 1.227 to 5.635) were independent relative factors of CA (all P<0.05). The AUC of this model was 0.935 (95%CI: 0.915 to 0.956). After internal verification using the Bootstrap method, the model still had a high discrimination ability (AUC=0.933), and the predicted CA curve was still in good agreement with the actual clinical CA curve. Conclusion: The clinical prediction model based on the elderly (age≥60 years), prolonged abdominal pain time, high fever (body temperature≥39 ℃), and increased total bilirubin can help clinicians effectively identify CA.

Evaluation of Factors Predicting Successful Outcome in Patients Undergoing Expectant Management of Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis.

Expectant management, or non-operative management (NOM), with standalone intravenous antibiotic therapy, has emerged as an effective alternative to appendectomy for the treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Various clinical, biochemical, and radiological factors have been implicated in predicting the success or failure of outcomes. Therefore, it is important to identify patients at the onset who are likely to have successful outcomes for conservative management of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. We prospectively enrolled 85 surgical patients diagnosed with uncomplicated acute appendicitis in our study. On admission, clinical features such as duration of symptoms, pulse rate (PR), history of fever within 24 hours of admission, modified Alvarado score and adult appendicitis score, biochemical parameters such as C-reactive protein (CRP), and hematological parameters such as total leukocyte count (TLC) were recorded. Radiological imaging of patients, namely ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced CT abdomen to evaluate appendix diameter and mural enhancement, was also undertaken. The outcome of expectant management for these patients (success or failure) was recorded, and the above-mentioned factors were evaluated to find a possible correlation with successful expectant management. We found that among 85 patients, 77.6% had a successful NOM of appendicitis, whereas 22.4% had a failed NOM of appendicitis. The duration of symptoms, pulse rate, fever within 24 hours of admission, TLC, percentage of neutrophils, CRP level, appendix diameter, modified Alvarado score, and adult appendicitis scorewere found to be statistically significant predictors of successful NOM of appendicitis according to univariate analysis. According to multivariable analysis, pulse rate and appendix diameter value were found to be statistically significant predictors of successful NOM of appendicitis. With each beat per minute (bpm) increase in pulse rate, there was a 0.30% decrease in the probability of a successful NOM of appendicitis. With each mm increase in appendix diameter, there was an 82% decrease in the probability of a successful NOM of appendicitis. From our study, it can be concluded that patients who met the following criteria, i.e., duration of symptoms before presenting to surgical emergency less than two days, presence of fever within 24 hours of presenting to surgical emergency, pulse rate >90 bpm, TLC >12000 cells/dL, CRP >20 mg/L, appendix diameter >10 mm, modified Alvarado score ≥ 9, and adult appendicitis score ≥ 18, have a higher probability of failure of NOM and hence should be excluded from expectant management.

The burden of the knowledge-to-action gap in acute appendicitis

BackgroundThe burden of emergency general surgery (EGS) is higher compared to elective surgery. Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most frequent diseases and its management is dictated by published international clinical practice guidelines (CPG). Adherence to CPG has been reported as heterogeneous. Barriers to clinical implementation were not studied. This study explored barriers to adherence to CPG and the clinico-economic impact of poor compliance.MethodsData were extracted from the three-year data lock of the REsiDENT-1 registry, a prospective resident-led multicenter trial. We identified 7 items from CPG published from the European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) and the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). We applied our classification proposal and used a five-point Likert scale (Ls) to assess laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) difficulty. Descriptive analyses were performed to explore compliance and group comparisons to assess the impact on outcomes and related costs. We ran logistic regressions to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation of CPG.ResultsFrom 2019 to 2022, 653 LA were included from 24 centers. 69 residents performed and coordinated data collection. We identified low compliance with recommendations on peritoneal irrigation (PI) (25.73%), abdominal drains (AD) (34.68%), and antibiotic stewardship (34.17%).Poor compliance on PI and AD was associated to higher infectious complications in uncomplicated AA. Hospitalizations were significantly longer in non-compliance except for PI in uncomplicated AA, and costs significantly higher, exception made for antibiotic stewardship in complicated AA. The strongest barriers to CPG implementation were complicated AA and technically challenging LA for PI and AD. Longer operative times and the use of PI negatively affected antibiotic stewardship in uncomplicated AA. Compliance was higher in teaching hospitals and in emergency surgery units.ConclusionsWe confirmed low compliance with standardized items influenced by environmental factors and non-evidence-based practices in complex LA. Antibiotic stewardship is sub-optimal. Not following CPG may not influence clinical complications but has an impact in terms of logistics, costs and on the non-measurable magnitude of antibiotic resistance. Structured educational interventions and institutional bundles are required.

Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy in adults with uncomplicated acute appendicitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and AimsEndoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) has emerged as a minimally-invasive, endoscopic alternative to laparoscopic appendectomy in the treatment of acute appendicitis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ERAT in treating uncomplicated, acute appendicitis. MethodsA systematic review of studies in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane databases was performed through June 2023. The primary outcomes included clinical success rate (defined as resolution in signs and symptoms of appendicitis) and technical success rate (defined as successful placement of a drain or stent within the appendiceal orifice or irrigation to relieve appendiceal obstruction). Secondary outcomes included adverse event rates and rates of intestinal perforation, procedure time, hospital length of stay, duration of follow up, and rates of appendicitis recurrence after ERAT. ResultsA total of eight studies were considered eligible for analysis (326 patients; average age 36.4 years old, 55.4% male). The rate of technical success was 98% (95% CI; 97%, 100%; I2=2.2%), and the rate of clinical success was 99% (95% CI; 97%, 100%; I2=0%). The total pooled adverse event rate was 1.8% (95% CI; 0.4%, 3.2%, I2=0%) with a pooled intestinal perforation rate of 1.5% (95% CI; 0.02%, 2.8%, I2=0%). The average procedure time was 44.9 minutes. The average hospital length of stay following ERAT was 3.22 days. The aggregate rate of appendicitis recurrence following ERAT was 6% (95% CI; 3%, 9%; I2=16.5%) after being followed for an average of 17.7 months. ConclusionsERAT demonstrates excellent technical and clinical success rates with minimal adverse events. Additional randomized controlled studies are needed to refine inclusion criteria and to standardize the approach to appendiceal stent placement during ERAT to minimize rates of intestinal perforation.

Non-operative treatment of acute appendicitis in children: clinical efficacy of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid in a retrospective single-centre study

BackgroundThe success rate of non-operative treatment (NOT) of acute uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA) in children varies from 65% to 95%. There are no recommendations on the appropriate antibiotic therapy.ObjectiveTo determine the...

Simple signage and targeted education can lead to process improvement in acute appendicitis care

IntroductionAn institution-wide protocol for uncomplicated acute appendicitis was created to improve compliance with best practices between the emergency department (ED), radiology and surgery. Awareness of the protocol was spread with...

Outcomes of Conservative Treatment of Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis in Children

Background: Pediatric healthcare is evolving, with acute appendicitis being a common issue. Traditionally, appendectomy has been the standard treatment. However, recent literature suggests that conservative antibiotic treatment could be a viable option, particularly for uncomplicated cases in children. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of conservative treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children. Methods: From July 2017 to March 2019, a prospective observational study was conducted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, involving 62 children with uncomplicated acute appendicitis. They received conservative treatment, including supportive care, for five days. Patients who responded positively within 24 hours continued for at least five days before discharge and underwent a 6-month follow-up. Results: The study encompassed 62 patients, with a mean age of 8.95 years, and a slight male predominance (61.3% male, 38.7% female). Clinical findings revealed a notable decrease in pain intensity (9.42 to 0.77), temperature (101.02º to 98.90º), and inflammatory markers (CRP: 28.13 ± 11.56 mg/L to 9.78 ± 7.50 mg/L) from admission to day 5. The mean duration of hospital stay was 5.26 ± 0.63 days. Remarkably, 95.1% of patients successfully recovered with conservative treatment, while 4.9% required surgery as part of their treatment course. Conclusion: This study found some potential benefits of conservative treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children. Significant improvements in clinical parameters and a high success rate emphasize its potential as a viable alternative to surgery in select cases, warranting further exploration in pediatric healthcare practices.

Frequency of Appendectomy in Children after Conservative Treatment of Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis

Background: Acute appendicitis, frequently seen in children, involves an inflamed appendix. Conventionally, surgical removal (appendectomy) has been the go-to treatment. Recently, interest in a conservative approach, utilizing antibiotics and close monitoring, has grown, particularly for uncomplicated cases. This shift aims to reduce surgical intervention, reflecting a changing understanding of the condition. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of appendectomy in children after conservative treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Methods: This prospective observational study spanned from July 2017 to March 2019, conducted at the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. It involved 62 children admitted for uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Data collection employed purposive sampling, and MS Office tools were used for data analysis. Results: In this study, the mean age of the total participants was 8.95±2.10 years within a range from 4 years to 12 years. The male-female ratio was 1.6:1. The frequency of appendectomy among the total participants was 4.9% (n=3). After taking conservative treatment, 95.1% (n=59) of patients were successfully discharged. Within six months, 13.0% (n=8) experienced recurrence, and the average hospital stay was 5.26±0.63 days. Conclusion: The frequency of appendectomy in children after conservative treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. So, by using conservative treatment physicians can save a huge number of paediatric patients from the hassles and sufferings of surgery for uncomplicated acute appendicitis.