Effect of Early Postoperative Feeding on the Recovery of Children Post Appendectomy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Appendectomy is a common surgical procedure in children.
• Postoperative recovery protocols can influence patient outcomes and hospital stay duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of early postoperative feeding on recovery parameters in pediatric appendectomy patients.
• To compare outcomes between early feeding and routine care groups.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, randomized controlled study involving 92 pediatric patients undergoing appendectomy.
• Patients were assigned to either an early feeding (intervention) or routine care (control) group.
• Data collected included time to first flatus/stool, hospital stay length, and patient-reported hunger, thirst, nausea, and pain using the Visual Analogue Scale.

Main Results:

• Early feeding significantly reduced the time to first flatus and stool passage.
• Patients in the early feeding group experienced a shorter hospital stay.
• Significant improvements were observed in hunger, thirst, and pain levels at specific postoperative intervals (36 and 48 hours) in the early feeding group.

Conclusions:

• Early postoperative feeding is a beneficial strategy for enhancing recovery after pediatric appendectomy.
• Implementing early feeding protocols can lead to faster gastrointestinal function recovery and reduced hospital length of stay.
• Early feeding positively impacts pediatric patients' comfort by alleviating postoperative hunger, thirst, and pain.