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Home next day: early discharge of children following appendicectomy

Michael Pfeil1, Azad Mathur, Shalini Singh

  • 1Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit, Faculty of Health, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. m.pfeil@uea.ac.uk

Journal of Child Health Care : for Professionals Working with Children in the Hospital and Community
|August 22, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Early discharge after appendicectomy is safe for children. Home nursing visits, compared to phone calls, significantly improved parental confidence in caring for children post-surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Nursing Care
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Uncomplicated appendicectomy is a common pediatric surgical procedure.
  • Early discharge protocols aim to improve patient flow and reduce healthcare costs.
  • Parental confidence and support are crucial for successful home recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of discharging children within 24 hours after an uncomplicated appendicectomy.
  • To compare the impact of home nursing visits versus telephone calls on parental confidence and minor complication management.
  • To assess the overall value of nursing contact in facilitating home care for pediatric surgical patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 56 children undergoing uncomplicated appendicectomy were divided into two groups.
  • Group 1 (N=21) received a home nursing visit within 24 hours of discharge.
  • Group 2 (N=35) received only telephone calls post-discharge. Both groups were assessed via telephone interviews two weeks after discharge.

Main Results:

  • All children were safely discharged within 24 hours of surgery, meeting discharge standards.
  • Minor physical complaints were reported post-discharge.
  • Home nursing visits provided reassurance, advice, and management of minor issues, enhancing parental confidence.

Conclusions:

  • Discharging children within 24 hours of uncomplicated appendicectomy is safe.
  • Home nursing contacts are valuable in supporting families and ensuring successful pediatric home recovery.
  • Nursing interventions positively impact parental confidence and reduce anxieties associated with home care post-surgery.

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