[Conservative management of postappendectomy intraperitoneal abscess. Preliminary results]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Traditionally, intraperitoneal abscesses post-appendectomy required surgical intervention (laparotomy) and drainage.
• Advancements in antimicrobial agents have opened possibilities for alternative treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic therapy as a primary treatment for pediatric intraperitoneal abscesses resulting from appendectomy.
• To determine if surgical intervention can be avoided in these cases.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 30 children diagnosed with intraperitoneal abscess post-appendectomy.
• Treatment involved intravenous administration of either gentamycin or cefotaxime for 10-14 days.
• Pre- and post-treatment sonograms were utilized to monitor the purulent collection.

Main Results:

• All 30 patients showed clinical improvement within 72 hours.
• Complete resolution of the abscesses was observed within two weeks of antibiotic treatment.
• No patient required a laparotomy, indicating successful non-surgical management.

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic therapy alone is a curative and effective treatment for intraperitoneal abscesses in children after appendectomy.
• This approach avoids the need for surgical intervention, reducing patient morbidity.