Laparoscopy in complicated pediatric appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Complicated appendicitis (gangrenous or perforated) has been associated with increased risk for postoperative complications, especially intraabdominal abscess. Caution has been advised when attempting laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis in children. The objective of our study was to assess the incidence of intraabdominal abscess formation after laparoscopic appendectomy in pediatric patients presenting with complicated appendicitis. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 52 pediatric patients presenting with acute appendicitis at a single teaching institution who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy by a single surgeon. All laparoscopic procedures were completed without conversion. Treatment complications and outcomes were recorded for all cases. RESULTS: Five of the 52 patients (10%) had complicated appendicitis. One of the 5 patients (20%) developed intraabdominal abscess postoperatively and underwent laparoscopic drainage during the same admission. No other complications were noted. None of these patients was readmitted for wound infections or intraabdominal abscesses. The single postoperative abscess occurred early during our initial experience with laparoscopic appendectomy. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendectomy seems to be a safe alternative for the treatment of complicated appendicitis in children. Caution is recommended during the initial experience of surgeons with this procedure, because the complication rate seems to be higher during the learning curve. Close postoperative follow-up and a high index of suspicion for development of complications is recommended. As surgeons' experience accumulates, the safety of the procedure seems to increase. A prospective, randomized trial is recommended to establish the role of laparoscopy in complicated appendicitis in the pediatric population.     

Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children

In the period between 1984 and 1988 laparoscopy was conducted 846 times in children with suspected acute appendicitis. In 301 children the diagnosis was confirmed in atypical forms of appendicitis. In 418 children laparoscopy revealed diseases which are recognized with great difficulties (mesadenitis, primary peritonitis, genital diseases, etc.), in which the final diagnosis is usually established during laparotomy. In 39 children laparoscopic diagnosis was conducted during intercurrent diseases in which the abdominal pain syndrome simulated the clinical picture of acute appendicitis. As the result of laparoscopic examination the number of operations for simple forms reduced from 38.3 to 6.2% and the timely diagnosis of acute appendicitis improved.     

Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children

Based upon an analysis of results of 1210 operations and 160 laparoscopies in children for "acute appendicitis" the authors make a conclusion that about 20% of children were subjected to unnecessary appendectomies. Laparoscopy allows to make the correct diagnosis in the absolute majority of children with obscure clinical picture of acute appendicitis and to choose a rational medical treatment.     

Laparoscopy utilization and outcomes for appendicitis in small children

Purpose

To examine the trends in laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) utilization and outcomes for children 5 years or younger.

Methods

We studied 16,028 inpatient admissions for children 5 years of age or less undergoing an appendectomy for acute appendicitis in 2000, 2003, and 2006 using the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). Laparoscopy frequency, hospital length of stay, and complications were reviewed.

Results

In 2000, 2003 and 2006 appendectomies were done laparoscopically 11.4%, 18.7% and 31.3% of the time, respectively. Children were more likely to undergo LA at a children's hospital (P < 0.001). LA complications were less likely overall (OR: 0.80, CI: 0.70–0.92, P = 0.002) and in perforated cases (OR: 0.78, CI: 0.67-0.91, P = 0.001). LA decreased hospital length of stay by 0.54 days for all patients and 0.70 days for perforated cases (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Open appendectomy has historically been the standard in children 5 years of age and younger. Laparoscopic appendectomy has slowly gained acceptance for the treatment of appendicitis in smaller children. The use of laparoscopy has increased significantly at all facilities. Furthermore, laparoscopic appendectomy in this age group has a comparatively low complication rate and short hospital length of stay, and is safe in complicated perforated appendicitis cases.     

小儿复杂性阑尾炎的腹腔镜治疗

目的 对比分析腹腔镜阑尾切除术(laparoscopic appendectomy,LA)和开腹阑尾切除术( open appendectomy,OA)治疗伴有坏疽、穿孔及阑尾周围脓肿的儿童阑尾炎的疗效.方法 回顾性分析614例儿童复杂性阑尾炎患者的临床资料,比较LA组(267例)和OA组(347例)手术时间、住院时间、住院费用及术后并发症的发生率.结果 本组614例患者中无手术死亡发生,LA组有7例中转开腹手术,LA组术后住院时间较OA组短(4.6d比8.1d,P=0.00),Trocar孔或切口感染(5.3％比12.8％,P=0.03)、肠梗阻(5.0％比10.0％,P=0.04)及院内感染发生率(9.7％比18.3％,P=0.04)均较OA组低.术后LA组腹腔脓肿发生率较OA组高(4.1％比1.1％,P=0.04),差异有统计学意义.两组的手术时间及费用之间比较差异无统计学意义(均P＞0.05).结论 LA具有创伤小、恢复快、并发症少、住院时间短等优点,是治疗儿童复杂性阑尾炎一种安全有效的手术方式,但术后腹腔脓肿发生率偏高.     

Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in children with uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis

Purpose

To address whether laparoscopic appendectomy could be an alternative to conventional open appendectomy in children with complicated appendicitis as well as uncomplicated appendicitis, a retrospective study comparing laparoscopic and open appendectomies was performed.

Methods

One hundred patients who were treated by immediate appendectomy, either laparoscopically or by the open method, between May 2000 and August 2003 were included in the study. There were 53 patients in the laparoscopic appendectomy group and 47 patients in the open appendectomy group.

Results

The operating time was significantly longer for laparoscopic appendectomy than for open appendectomy (P < .001). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in laparoscopic appendectomy in patients with uncomplicated appendicitis (P = .001). Thirteen of the 100 patients (13.0%) had 15 postoperative complications including wound infection (n = 8), intraabdominal abscess (n = 4), stitch abscess (n = 2), and small bowel obstruction (n = 1). In both uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis, there was no significant difference between laparoscopic and open appendectomies in the complication rates, and the incidences of each complication did not differ between the procedures. Among the 14 patients with generalized peritonitis, postoperative complications were seen in 5 patients (35.7%). Although the presence of generalized peritonitis was associated significantly with postoperative complications (P = .017), there was no significant association between the procedure and complications. Overall treatment costs were increased by 26.0% in laparoscopic appendectomy.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic appendectomy should remain an option in children with uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis, and when laparoscopy is selected, consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure is essential.     

Expanded utilization of nonoperative management for complicated appendicitis in children

Purpose

The initial approach to complicated appendicitis in children has become increasingly nonoperative, particularly when there is presumed perforation and a localized abscess. We extended the indications for nonoperative management to include most cases other than simple appendicitis, including those with diffuse peritoneal involvement. We evaluated outcomes and sought to identify factors at the time of hospital admission that predicted an extended length of stay (LOS) with this strategy.

Methods

The records of 223 consecutive children who were managed nonoperatively for complicated appendicitis were reviewed. A conservative approach was typically pursued in those with an abscess, phlegmon, or free fluid on initial imaging studies, and diffuse tenderness, diarrhea, or significant leukocytosis after 2 days of symptoms. Interval appendectomies were performed selectively.

Results

The average LOS was 5.6 days (1–38), but nine subjects had a LOS of greater than 14 days. Eleven (4.9 %) required appendectomy during the initial admission. Free fluid on admission imaging studies, present in 78 % of those with an extended LOS, [odds ratio (OR) 5.5], in addition to a requirement for early nasogastric drainage (OR 24.2) and a higher band count (19 vs 15 %), was significantly associated with an extended LOS.

Conclusions

An expansion of the indications for nonoperative management of complicated appendicitis yielded an acceptable average LOS and a low incidence of early appendectomy. However, a small subset of subjects had an extended LOS, and most of those had free peritoneal fluid on admission.     

Laparoscopy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

The results of diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) were retrospectively analyzed in 2403 patients, in 336 of them diagnostic laparoscopy (DLS) was performed. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed in 132 (39.3%) patients, other surgical diseases were found in 102 (20.35%) and acute surgical abdominal diseases of were excluded in 102 (20.35%) patients. AA was also diagnosed in 17 patients suspected for other surgical diseases of the abdomen. This is DLS showed AA in 149 (42.2%) patients and its absence in 204 (57.8%) cases DLS revealed cathartic AA was in 3 (2%) patients, in of 2 of them there was a diagnostic error during morphologic control (no inflammation). The diagnostic error rate was 96% in the group of 163 patients undergone appendectomy for cathartic AA without previous DLS. At DLS destructive AA forms were diagnosed in 111 patients, diagnostic errors were made in 0.9%. In the group of patients undergone appendectomy for destructive AA without previous DLS, the diagnostic errors rate was 1.1%. In 35 cases (23.4%) when the appendix could not be visualized at DLS (including patients with appendiceal infiltrate), the diagnosis was based on indirect criteria, errors being made in 3 cases. There were neither direct nor indirect data on the appendiceal status in 3 (0.9%) DLS. In these cases, the policy was based on clinical manifestations.     

Laparoscopy in the contemporary management of acute appendicitis

BACKGROUND: We sought to compare laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) with open appendectomy (OA) focusing on the negative appendectomy rate (NAR), emergency department (ED) to operating room (OR) time, procedure length, and histopathological correlation. METHODS: All appendectomies for appendicitis over a 6-year period at a single hospital were reviewed. Open and laparoscopic procedures were compared. RESULTS: There were 1,312 appendectomies (54.6% OA and 45.4% LA) Mean ED to OR time was as follows: LA 10.8 hours (standard deviation [SD] +/- 9.0) versus 9.8 hours (SD +/- 8.5) OA (P = .0333). Mean OR time was 61.2 minutes (SD +/- 29.1) LA versus 57.7 minutes (SD +/- 28) OA (P = .0293). NAR was 18.3%, LA 23.3% versus 14.0% OA (P < .0001). Postoperative correlation with histopathology was 86% for LA versus 92% OA (P = .0003). In the LA group, 9.9% with a "normal" appendix had appendicitis by histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: LA is associated with increased presentation to procedure time, operative time, and negative appendectomy rate. Removing a "normal" appendix during LA in the absence of alternate pathology is recommended.     

Laparoscopy in children

Technological advances combined with increasing surgical and anaesthetic expertise have broadened the range of laparoscopic procedures presently being undertaken in children, from the neonatal period through to adolescence. It is therefore essential for surgeons undertaking laparoscopic procedures in children to be equipped not only with technical knowledge, but also to be familiar with the basic science which underpins this practice. In this article, emphasis is placed upon physiology, anatomical landmarks, the evidence base for laparoscopic procedures in children and the mode of action of commonly used energy sources.     

Management of complicated acute appendicitis in children:Still an existing controversy

Complicated acute appendicitis(CAA) is a serious condition and carries significant morbidity in children. A strict diagnosis is challenging, as there are many lesions that mimic CAA. The management of CAA is still controversial.There are two options for treatment: Immediate operative management and nonoperative management with antibiotics and/or drainage of any abscess or phlegmon. Each method of treatment has advantages and disadvantages.Operative management may be difficult due to the presence of inflamed tissues and may lead to detrimental events. In many cases, non-operative management with or without drainage and interval appendectomy is advised. The reasons for this approach include new medications and policies for the use of antibiotic therapy. Furthermore, advances in radiological interventions may overcome difficulties such as diagnosing and managing the complications of CAA without any surgeries. However, questions have been raised about the risk of recurrence,prolonged use of antibiotics, lengthened hospital stay and delay in returning to daily activities. Moreover, the need for interval appendectomy is currently under debate because of the low risk of recurrence. Due to the paucity of high-quality studies, more randomized controlled trials to determine the precise management strategy are needed. This review aims to study the current data on operative vs non-operative management for CAA in children and to extract any useful information from the literature.