Article Information

Mohammad Syfur Rashid^1*, Abdul Hanif Tablu², KM Shaiful Islam³, Mitali Hossain⁴, Shariful Alam⁵, Syeda Tamanna Tanjil⁶

¹Department of Pediatric Surgery, Monno Medical College Hospital, Manikgonj, Bangladesh

²Department of Neonatal Surgery, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

³Department of Pediatric Surgery, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

⁴MBBS, MPH (NIPSOM), Dhaka, Bangladesh

⁵Department of Surgical Oncology, National Institutes of Cancer Research and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

⁶Consultant Clinical Pathologist, SIBL Foundation Hospital, Panthapath, Dhaka, Bangladesh

^*Corresponding Author: Dr. Mohammad Syfur Rashid, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Monno Medical College Hospital, Manikgonj, Bangladesh.

Received: 15 December 2023; Accepted: 22 December 2023; Published: 28 December 2023

Citation: Mohammad Syfur Rashid, Abdul Hanif Tablu, KM Shaiful Islam, Mitali Hossain, Shariful Alam, Syeda Tamanna Tanjil. Beyond Surgery: Reassessing Appendectomy in Uncomplicated Pediatric Appendicitis cases. Journal of Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health. 7 (2023): 254-259.

Abstract

Keywords

Reassessing; Appendectomy; Acute appendicitis; Children; Conservative treatment

Article Details

1. Introduction

Appendicitis is a prevalent condition among pediatric patients, requiring prompt intervention to prevent potential complications [1-8]. The likelihood of developing appendicitis over a lifetime is approximately 7-8%, with the highest occurrence during the teenage years [2]. While appendectomy has traditionally been the primary treatment for acute appendicitis since its introduction by McBurney in 1889 [4], recent medical literature and evolving clinical practices have prompted a reevaluation of this conventional approach [8]. Surgical appendectomy has long been considered the gold standard for treating uncomplicated pediatric appendicitis [6]. Despite being generally perceived as a straightforward procedure, it involves general anesthesia and abdominal operation and carries inherent risks and potential complications. Complications related to surgery or anaesthesia occurs in over 10% of children within 30 days of appendectomy [7]. The emergence of non-operative interventions, such as antibiotic therapy and observational management, reflects a shift towards more conservative and patient-centred approaches [9]. The reconsideration of surgical intervention is underscored by its impact on patient outcomes, healthcare costs, and the overall experience for patients and their families [10]. The advent of laparoscopic surgery and the low threshold for operative intervention have led to a risk of high negative appendicectomy rates with unnecessary surgery-related morbidity [11,12]. Approximately 20% of patients present with complicated appendicitis, prompting exploration of non-operative approaches for early uncomplicated cases, often resulting in resolution [13,14]. While historically, antibiotics were seen as a prelude to surgery for suspected appendicitis, recent findings indicate that antibiotics can be a safe primary treatment for acute uncomplicated appendicitis [15]. Varadhan et al. (2012) concluded from their meta-analysis that antibiotics can be used safely as the primary treatment in patients presenting with acute uncomplicated appendicitis, with a 63% response rate to non-operative treatment [16]. Although the literature on non-operative treatment in children is limited, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that non-operative treatment is effective as the initial approach in 97% of cases of acute uncomplicated appendicitis in children [17]. This approach may offer social and economic benefits, reducing the time away from normal daily activities for children and families, including schooling and parental time off work. However, the issue of recurrent appendicitis arises as successful non-operative treatment leaves children with an appendix and a risk of recurrence.

2. Methodology and Materials

This was a prospective observational study. This study was conducted from July 2017 to March 2019 at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. All patients were admitted with uncomplicated acute appendicitis in the Department of Pediatric surgery. After explaining the study objectives, purpose and potential risks of the procedure in details, informed written consent was collected from the patient’s guardian. Detailed history, clinical examination, and all information were taken in a predesigned dully pretested data collection form. Prior to the commencement of this study, the research protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of DMCH, Dhaka.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Patients of uncomplicated acute appendicitis
2. Age up to 12 years in both sexes

Exclusion criteria:

1. Patients of age >12years
2. Patients with obstructed appendicitis- appendicitis with fecalith
3. Patients with perforated appendix
4. Patients with appendicular lump/abscess

2.1 Study procedure:

A questionnaire was prepared by the researcher considering key variables like age, sex, presenting complains, clinical findings, associated medical conditions, investigations, antibiotic and doses. The data were collected by researcher himself. The aims, objectives, procedures, risks and benefits of operation were explained to the gurdian of the selected patients. The patients were encouraged for voluntary participation. They were also assured about the secrecy of information and records. Then written informed consent was taken from each patient/parent. Then a conservative treatment started with admitted uncomplicated acute appendicitis patient combination by inj. ceftriaxone (100mg/kg/ day), inj. metronidazol (1.5mg/kg/tds) and inj. amikacin (7.5mg/kg/bd) therapy for five days with associated supportive management. The patients were assessed after 24 hours of treatment, who responded on above treatment continued same treatment at least five days then discharged and followed up and investigation (CBC, Ultrasonogram of whole abdomen) were done after 15 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Above all other necessary information was taken. Demographic and clinical information were recorded.

2.2 Data collection and analysis:

Data collection procedure: After management patients were followed up after 15days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Evaluation was performed by clinical examination, blood investigation and sonological test. All the data was checked and edited after collection. Then the data was entered into computer and statistical analysis of the results was obtained by using windows-based computer software Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS-22) (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). The results were presented in tables and figures. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05 and confidence interval set at 95% level. Continuous variables were expressed as mean with standard deviation and categorical variables as frequency with percentage.

3. Result

Table 1 shows the age distribution of the study population (N=62), revealing a diverse representation, with a mean age of 8.95±2.10 years. Notably, the majority falls within the 6-10 years range (45.2%), followed by 11-12 years (41.9%), and 4-6 years (12.9%). This distribution highlights the concentration of subjects in the middle childhood years. Figure 1 illustrates that the gender distribution in the study population demonstrates a predominance of males, constituting 61.3%, while females account for 38.7%. This imbalance suggests a potential gender-related factor that may influence the study's findings, warranting further exploration or consideration in the analysis and interpretation of results. Table 2 provides an overview of the clinical findings and symptoms in the study population. Noteworthy observations include a high prevalence of anorexia (80.65%), fever exceeding 38? C (80.65%), and triage as acute abdomen (83.87%). Additionally, nausea/vomiting (64.52%), RLQ tenderness (64.52%), neutrophilia (74.19%), and leukocytosis (59.68%) are common, indicating a range of symptoms and clinical markers associated with the studied pediatric appendicitis cases. Table 3 presents the pain measurements of the study population based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The mean pain scores decrease progressively over time, indicating a substantial reduction in pain from the first to the fifth-day post-intervention. Specifically, the mean pain scores are 9.42±0.92 on the first day, 7.13±1.00 on the second day, 4.77±0.98 on the third day, and a notable decrease to 0.77±0.98 on the fifth day. This suggests an effective and improving trend in pain management throughout the study period. Table 4 outlines the observations of the appendix diameter in the study population over time. The mean diameter decreases progressively, suggesting a reduction in inflammation and swelling. Specifically, the mean appendix diameter is 6.97±0.36 mm at admission, decreasing to 5.71±0.82 mm at day 15, 5.55±0.67 mm at day 30, and further diminishing to 5.05±0.76 mm at 3 months. This trend indicates a positive response to treatment and resolution of inflammation in the appendix. Table 5 provides insights into the patients' observation and treatment durations. The median observation period after initial treatment is 16 months, ranging from 12 to 18 months. Patients experienced a median duration of 22 hours of pain before hospitalization, with a range of 12 to 24 hours. The time from symptoms to management has a median of 24 hours, ranging from 15 to 28 hours. Hospitalization duration has a median of 84 hours, ranging from 72 to 126 hours. Additionally, the duration of antibiotic treatment (both intravenous and oral) averages 5.26±0.63 days, providing insight into the length of antimicrobial therapy administered to the study population. Figure 2 indicates that most patients (95.1%) in the study population experienced successful conservative treatment. Conversely, a small percentage (4.9%) had unsuccessful conservative treatment. This suggests that the conservative approach, as opposed to immediate surgery, was effective in a majority of cases for managing uncomplicated pediatric appendicitis in the studied population.

Table 1: Age distribution of the study population (N=62).

Table 2: Clinical findings and symptoms.

Table 3: Pain measurement of the study population based on VAS.

Table 4: Observation of appendix diameter.

Figure 1: Gender distribution of the study population (N=62).

Table 5: Patients observation and treatments duration.

Figure 2: Outcome of the study (N=62).

4. Discussion

In recent years, numerous studies have investigated alternative approaches to treating acute uncomplicated appendicitis in children through conservative methods. A UK feasibility trial randomized children based on a clinical presentation for suspected acute uncomplicated appendicitis, demonstrating that conservative treatment is safe and feasible. This development could open avenues for future randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Despite efforts to enroll only children with uncomplicated appendicitis, only 4.9% of those allocated for appendectomy in the study had complicated appendicitis. Of the 62 children initially assigned to nonoperative treatment, 95.1% did not undergo appendectomy by the end of the follow-up period, aligning with findings in a study by Stenier et al. in 2017 [18]. The study on conservative antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children, with a mean age of 8.95±2.10 years, predominantly male (male-to-female ratio 1.6:1), echoed results from Bachur et al. [19], with a median age of 11.4 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.5:1 [19]. Maini et al. [20] reported a mean age of 13.3 years and a male-to-female ratio of 2:1, showing slight variations. Abdominal pain was the primary complaint in 83.47% of cases, leading to triage as acute abdomen, while fever and anorexia were more common in severe appendicitis cases [21]. The mean diameter of the uncomplicated acute appendix at admission was 6.97±0.36 mm, aligning with findings from another study [22]. Analyzing 62 children eligible for conservative treatment and long-term follow-up, the study revealed that 95.1% of children with uncomplicated appendicitis were successfully managed with conservative treatment, including IV antibiotic treatment for 3-5 days, oral antibiotics for 5 days, and a median follow-up of 18 months. This outcome is consistent with Stenier's 2017 study [19]. Recognizing the frequent misdiagnosis of appendicitis and the associated unnecessary appendectomies, the study aimed to explore alternatives. Complications during conservative therapy were observed in 3 cases (4.9%), contrasting with an 11.9% complication rate in Maini et al.'s 2017 study [21]. Two patients (5.0%) required surgery after 12 and 24 hours, as reported by Malik and Bari in 2009 [23]. Styrud et al. [24] noted that only 12% of patients in the antibiotic treatment group underwent surgery within 24 hours [24]. The study suggests that antibiotics can successfully treat acute appendicitis, leading to a short hospital stay, minimal sick leave, and limited pain duration.

5. Limitations of the Study

Despite the valuable insights provided by this study on the effectiveness of conservative treatment for pediatric uncomplicated appendicitis, certain limitations should be acknowledged. Firstly, the study's sample size of 62 patients may limit the generalizability of findings to a broader population. Additionally, the single-centre nature of the study may introduce geographical and demographic biases. The exclusion of patients with obstructed appendicitis, perforated appendix, or appendicular lump/abscess may restrict the applicability of results to a specific subset of pediatric appendicitis cases. Moreover, the relatively short follow-up period of 18 months raises questions about the long-term efficacy and recurrence rates of conservative treatment. Further multicenter studies with larger and more diverse cohorts, extended follow-up periods, and consideration of a broader range of appendicitis presentations are warranted to enhance the robustness and external validity of the findings.

6. Conclusion and Recommendations

In conclusion, our prospective observational study demonstrates that conservative management, including intravenous antibiotic therapy followed by oral antibiotics, is a viable and effective approach for uncomplicated pediatric appendicitis. The majority of cases (95.1%) showed successful resolution without the need for surgical intervention. Our findings highlight the potential benefits of this non-operative strategy, such as shorter hospital stays, reduced pain duration, and limited disruption to daily activities for children and their families. Recommendations for future research include conducting randomized controlled trials to further validate the efficacy and safety of conservative management compared to traditional surgical appendectomy in pediatric patients with uncomplicated appendicitis. Additionally, exploring the long-term outcomes, including the risk of recurrent appendicitis and potential complications, will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of non-operative approaches. As the medical community reevaluates treatment paradigms, our study supports considering conservative management as a primary option for uncomplicated pediatric appendicitis, emphasizing its potential benefits regarding healthcare resource utilization and patient well-being. However, research and consensus within the medical community are warranted before the widespread adoption of non-operative strategies in routine clinical practice.

Funding:

No funding sources.

Conflict of interest:

None declared.

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