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Nonoperative management of appendicitis in children

Joseph J López1, Katherine J Deans, Peter C Minneci

  • 1aCenter for Surgical Outcomes Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio bDepartment of Surgery, New York Medical College-Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York cDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|March 18, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Nonoperative management is a safe and effective alternative for treating appendicitis in children. Recent literature supports its use for both simple and complex cases, offering a viable option beyond traditional surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Health
  • Medical Treatment Efficacy

Background:

  • Appendicitis is a frequent surgical diagnosis in pediatric patients.
  • Traditional treatment involves surgical appendectomy, which carries inherent risks.
  • Recent advancements explore nonoperative management as an alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on nonoperative management of appendicitis in children.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of nonoperative approaches.
  • To highlight recent data supporting this treatment strategy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies and clinical trials.
  • Analysis of data on nonoperative management for uncomplicated appendicitis.
  • Evaluation of outcomes for complicated appendicitis treated nonoperatively.

Main Results:

  • Nonoperative management is effective in 71-94% of uncomplicated appendicitis cases.
  • For complicated appendicitis, antibiotics alone or with interval appendectomy are well-tolerated alternatives.
  • Recent data confirms the efficacy of nonoperative treatment for both types of appendicitis.

Conclusions:

  • Nonoperative management is a safe and well-tolerated option for select pediatric appendicitis cases.
  • It offers an effective alternative to surgery, potentially reducing surgical risks.
  • This approach is suitable for both uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis in children.
Abstract

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