Contemporary Epidemiology of and Risk Factors Associated with Removal of a Pathologically Normal Appendix in Children with Suspected Appendicitis

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize contemporary performance benchmarks and risk factors associated with negative appendectomy (NA) in children with suspected appendicitis.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort analysis of children undergoing appendectomy for suspected appendicitis was performed using data from the 2016–2021 NSQIP-Pediatric Appendectomy Targeted Public Use Files. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the influence of year, age, sex, and WBC count on NA rate, and to generate rate estimates for NA based on different combinations of demographic characteristics and WBC profiles.Results100,322 patients were included from 140 hospitals. The overall NA rate was 2.4%, and rates decreased significantly during the study period (2016: 3.1% vs. 2021: 2.3%, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the highest risk for NA was associated with a normal WBC (<9000/mm³; OR 5.31 [95% CI: 4.87–5.80]), followed by female sex (OR 1.55 [95% CI: 1.42–1.68]) and age <5 years (OR 1.64 [95% CI 1.39, 1.94]). Model-estimated risk for NA varied significantly across demographic and WBC strata, with a 14.4-fold range in rates between subgroups with the lowest and highest predicted risk (males 13–17 years with elevated WBC [1.1%] vs. females 3–4 years with normal WBC [15.8%]).ConclusionsContemporary NA rates have decreased over time, however NA risk remains high in children without a leukocytosis, particularly for girls and children <5 years of age. These data provide contemporary performance benchmarks for NA in children with suspected appendicitis and identify high-risk populations where further efforts to mitigate NA risk should be targeted.Level of EvidenceIII.     

磁锚定技术辅助腹腔镜阑尾切除术的实验研究

目的:验证自行设计加工的磁锚定装置在减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术中应用的可行性。方法:设计加工适用于辅助减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除术的磁锚定装置,该装置包括内置抓钳和锚定磁体2个部分。以6只健康雄性Beagle犬为模型,用磁锚定装置代替传统腹腔镜阑尾切除术中的副操作孔抓钳,经主操作孔置入磁锚定内置抓钳并钳夹于阑尾尖部,体外放置锚定磁体,锚定磁体与内置抓钳的靶磁体相吸,移动锚定磁体即可改变内置抓钳的牵拉方向,从而有效牵拉暴露手术术野,完成减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除手术。记录手术操作时间、术中出血量,评价利用磁锚定装置进行阑尾切除时操作的安全性和可行性。结果:6只Beagle犬均顺利完成磁锚定技术辅助减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除,手术时间27~38 min,出血量均小于10 ml,术后实验犬状态良好,未出现并发症。结论:磁锚定装置用于减戳孔腹腔镜阑尾切除手术操作简单、安全可行,在相关设计进一步优化基础上,可尝试或试验性用于临床。     

Patient comprehension and recall of laparoscopic surgery and outcomes in a non-English speaking population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine patient recall and comprehension after laparoscopic appendectomy in an underserved population. Laparoscopic surgery can lead to diagnostic uncertainty secondary to poor recall and variable port placement. METHODS: After institutional review board approval, we identified a cohort of patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy from 2000 to 2004 at a single institution. We then attempted to contact the patients to conduct a 10-question telephone survey, which determined whether the patient spoke English or Spanish as a primary language, ethnicity, educational level, and questions about recall of perioperative events and diagnoses. If we could not reach the patient, we tried to call back on 2 different occasions. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2004, 186 patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. Of these, 65% were Hispanic. We found that only 17% of these patients returned for a postoperative visit. Only 19.3% could be contacted by phone. Forty-seven percent of the patients contacted by phone spoke Spanish exclusively. Overall 92% of patients contacted knew what operation they had, and gave their correct diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The low percentage of patients available to follow-up makes this study statistically insignificant. However, we believe that fact in itself is important. In Southwestern states, we see a large migrant population. This highlights the need to communicate effectively with the patients at the time of surgery, which we speculate we did based on the percentage of patients that knew their diagnosis.     

老年人急性阑尾炎的腹腔镜手术治疗

目的 探讨老年人急性阑尾炎的临床特点，更好地把握腹腔镜阑尾切除（LA）术的方法和特点。方法 回顾分析50例老年人急性阑尾炎LA的临床资料。结果 LA均获成功，患者全部治愈，无严重的并发症发生，肠功能恢复时间及住院时间均缩短。结论 老年人反应迟钝，阑尾炎进展快，易发生坏疽及穿孔，合并症多，手术风险较高，LA是安全、可行的，除个别腹膜后阑尾炎外，其余均可施行LA。     

LAPAROSCOPIC TREATMENT FOR PERFORATED APPENDICITIS WITH PELVIC ABSCESS

We performed laparoscopic appendectomy and drainage to treat panperitonitis due to perforated appendicitis that occurred in a 28‐year‐old woman. We believe this is an appropriate procedure to treat perforated appendicitis because it is safe and minimally invasive, and faster recovery can be expected than after conventional open appendectomy.     

Risk of appendiceal neoplasm after interval appendectomy for complicated appendicitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundNon-operative management is often the treatment of choice in cases of complicated appendicitis and routine interval appendectomy is not usually recommended. Actually, recent studies show an alarming number of appendiceal neoplasms following interval appendectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of appendiceal neoplasms and their histological types after interval appendectomy for complicated appendicitis in adults.MethodsA comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. Studies reporting appendiceal neoplasm rates after interval appendectomy and histopathological characteristics were included. The most recent World Health Organization (WHO) classification of malignant tumours was considered. A pooled prevalence analysis for both prevalence and pathology was performed.ResultsA total of eight studies was included: seven retrospective series and one randomized controlled trial. The pooled prevalence of neoplasms after interval appendectomy was 11% (95% CI 7–15; I² = 37.5%, p = 0.13). Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms occurred in 43% (95% CI 19–68), adenocarcinoma in 29% (95% CI 6–51), appendiceal neuroendocrine neoplasm in 21% (95% CI 6–36), globet cell carcinoma in 13% (95% CI -2-28), adenoma or serrated lesions in 20% (95% CI -0-41) of cases.ConclusionThe risk of appendiceal neoplasm in patients treated with interval appendectomy for complicated appendicitis is 11%; mucinous neoplasm is the most common histopathological type. Further studies should investigate this association in order to clarify the biological pathway and clinical implications.     

Die laparoskopische appendektomie Eine literaturrecherche

Zusammenfassung Laparoskopische Operationsmethoden gewannen in den vergangenen Jahren zunehmende Popularität in der Chirurgie. Die laparoskopische Cholezystektomie gilt inzwischen als etabliert. Im Gegensatz dazu ist die laparoskopische Appendektomie weiterhin umstritten. Mittels der computergestützten Literaturdatenbank Medline wurden sämtliche Veröffentlichungen bis zum 31.12.1993 zum Stichwort laparoskopische Appendektomie zusammengetragen. Von 90 Publikationen stellen lediglich 14 einen Vergleich zwischen konventioneller und laparoskopischer Appendektomie an. Lediglich zwei prospektiv randomiserte Studien wurden publiziert. Die geringen Kollektivgrößen lassen eine abschließende Bewertung der laparoskopischen Methode noch nicht zu.

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Laparoscopic appendectomy — a review

Laparoscopic methods are becoming increasingly popular in surgery. In the course of a review concerning laparoscopic appendectomy undertaken up to 31 December 1993 all publications were evaluated by computer-assisted recherche. Out of a total of 90 publications only 14 deal with the comparison of the laparoscopic versus open appendectomy. Two prospective randomized studies are published. Because of the low number of patients the evaluation of the laparoscopic method is not yet definite.

     

Appendicitis: Higher risk in Mexican Americans?

Objectives. Mexican Americans (MAs), compared to white non‐Hispanics (WNHs), have higher rates of biliary disease, noninsulin dependent diabetes, and endstage renal disease but lower rates of lung cancer, hip fractures, and mortality from coronary heart disease. Relatively little research has been done to identify other ethnic differences in disease incidence. We used surgical procedure rates to confirm known ethnic differences and to explore our clinical suspicion that MAs have higher rates of appendectomy than WNHs.

Methods. We used a registry of surgical procedures at two teaching hospitals in South Texas to calculate proportional operation ratios (PORs) for MAs versus WNHs. These two hospitals are the primary source of acute hospital care for the indigent in the area. The POR is arithmetically identical to proportional incidence and mortality ratios.

Results. MAs underwent appendectomy proportionally more often than WNHs at both hospitals (POR = 1.41 and 1.75, p < 0.0001). Other significant PORs were consistent with known ethnic disease differences in biliary tract operations, vascular access for chronic hemodialysis, lung cancer, and coronary artery bypass.

Conclusions. These findings support the hypothesis that MAs may undergo appendectomy more often than WNHs and so may be at higher risk of appendicitis.     

Cancer risk following appendectomy for acute appendicitis (Denmark)

Objective: Epidemiologic studies have not been able definitely to exclude that appendectomy carries a cancer risk. This study was conducted to clarify whether appendectomy is associated with a subsequent increase in cancer risk, since appendectomy is frequently an elective procedure. Methods: The present study included more than 82,000 persons who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis during 1977-89 according to the nation-wide Danish Hospital Discharge Register. During a follow-up interval of up to 17 years, cancer incidence was assessed by linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry and compared with the incidence in the general population of Denmark. Results: The total number of malignancies among appendectomized persons was 1.05 times higher than expected with 95 percent confidence intervals of 0.99-1.11. There was no clear significant excess of any specific cancer type. Conclusion: During a postsurgery period of nearly two decades, results of our study did not support the hypothesis that either appendectomy or acute appendicitis are likely to be associated with malignant neoplasms.     

A double-blind controlled trial of metronidazole suppositories in children undergoing appendicectomy

Summary

A total of 133 children, aged 16 months to 15 years (mean 6.7 years), with presumptive acute appendicitis, was included in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the short-term (72 hour) use of metronidazole suppositories as prophylaxis against post-operative infection. There was no significant difference in the incidence or severity of wound infection or post-operative intra-abdominal sepsis between the metronidazole-treated and placebo groups. It is suggested that intra-rectal metronidazole, when used exclusively, is not sufficient for effective prophylaxis for appendicitis in childhood.