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Increased incidence of perforated appendicitis in children with obesity

Felix C Blanco1, Anthony D Sandler, Evan P Nadler

  • 1Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010, USA. fblanco@cnmc.org

Clinical Pediatrics
|April 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with obesity are more likely to experience perforated appendicitis, suggesting delayed diagnosis. This highlights the need for increased clinical awareness in obese children presenting with abdominal pain.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Obesity Research
  • Gastrointestinal Health

Background:

  • Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in children.
  • Obesity prevalence is increasing in pediatric populations.
  • Clinical presentation of appendicitis may be altered in obese children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between childhood obesity and the presentation of appendicitis.
  • To determine if obesity influences the likelihood of appendicitis perforation.
  • To assess the impact of obesity on appendicitis outcomes like length of stay and complications.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of pediatric appendicitis cases from 2008-2010.
  • Comparison of clinical presentation, diagnostic imaging use, and outcomes between obese and nonobese children.
  • Statistical analysis to identify significant differences (P < .05).

Main Results:

  • Obese children were significantly more likely to present with perforated appendicitis (45%) compared to nonobese children (30%) (P = .026).
  • Obesity did not significantly affect the length of hospital stay.
  • Obesity did not significantly impact the overall complication rate following appendicitis treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood obesity is associated with a higher incidence of perforated appendicitis.
  • The findings suggest potential diagnostic delays or challenges in identifying appendicitis in obese children.
  • Increased clinical vigilance is recommended for obese children presenting with abdominal pain suggestive of appendicitis.

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