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A prospective study of safety and satisfaction with same-day discharge after laparoscopic appendectomy for acute

Fuad Alkhoury1, Cathy Burnweit, Leopoldo Malvezzi

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Miami Children's Hospital, Florida International University College of Medicine, Miami, FL 33155, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|February 14, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Same-day discharge after pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy (LapAppy) for appendicitis is safe and effective. Most parents were satisfied with their child going home the same day, reporting good outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Surgical Outcomes

Background:

  • Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in children.
  • Laparoscopic appendectomy (LapAppy) is the preferred surgical approach.
  • Evaluating same-day discharge protocols is crucial for optimizing pediatric surgical care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety and efficacy of same-day discharge for pediatric patients undergoing LapAppy.
  • To evaluate parental satisfaction with same-day discharge after LapAppy.
  • To analyze complication rates associated with early discharge in pediatric appendicitis.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective data collection from 158 pediatric patients undergoing LapAppy for simple appendicitis.
  • Analysis of time from operation to discharge and postoperative complications.
  • Parental satisfaction surveys administered at follow-up; statistical analysis using Student t test.

Main Results:

  • 80% of patients were discharged on the day of surgery, a mean of 4.8 hours postoperatively.
  • No major complications were observed; similar umbilical wound infection rates (2% vs. 3%) for same-day vs. admitted patients.
  • High parental satisfaction reported, with 92% preferring same-day discharge in retrospect.

Conclusions:

  • Routine same-day discharge following pediatric LapAppy for acute appendicitis is a safe and well-tolerated practice.
  • Good parent satisfaction supports the implementation of early discharge protocols.
  • Same-day discharge can be a viable option for select pediatric appendicitis cases.
Abstract

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