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Study of management of appendicular abscess in children
Nandkishor Shinde1, Ravindra Devani1, Mohammed Abdul Baseer1
1Department of Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Unit, Khaja Banda Nawaz Institute of Medical Sciences, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India.
Insights
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective treatment for appendicular abscess in children, leading to faster recovery and fewer complications than emergency surgery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Interventional Radiology
- Abdominal Imaging
Background:
- Appendicular abscesses in children present a surgical challenge.
- Traditional management often involves emergency surgery and appendectomy.
- Minimally invasive techniques are being explored for improved outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical outcomes of emergency surgery versus percutaneous drainage for appendicular abscess in pediatric patients.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage as a primary treatment modality.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 45 children diagnosed with appendicular abscess via ultrasonogram (USG).
- Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (emergency surgery and appendectomy, n=20) and Group 2 (ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage followed by interval appendectomy, n=25).
- Data collected included patient demographics, symptom duration, clinical signs, white blood cell count, and abscess characteristics on USG.
Main Results:
- Group 2 (percutaneous drainage) showed a mean functional recovery period of 2 days, compared to 3.2 days for Group 1 (surgery).
- No major complications were reported in Group 2, whereas 60% of patients in Group 1 experienced complications (wound infection, wound dehiscence).
- Average abscess size was comparable between groups (7.2 ± 2.5 cm in Group 1 vs. 6.8 ± 2.4 cm in Group 2).
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective management strategy for pediatric appendicular abscess.
- This minimally invasive approach offers advantages in terms of reduced complications and faster patient recovery.
- Percutaneous drainage followed by interval appendectomy presents a favorable alternative to immediate surgical intervention.
Aim:
To compare the outcomes in children who underwent emergency surgery and those who underwent percutaneous drainage for appendicular abscess.
Materials And Methods:
In this prospective study, 45 children of appendicular abscess detected on ultrasonogram (USG) were included in the study. The following characteristics were registered: age, gender, the time from onset of symptoms to seeking care, pain, vomiting, fever and general peritonitis; white blood cell count. The size, location of the abscess was noted on USG. After the diagnosis, we divided the patients into two groups based on the type of management. Patients who underwent emergency surgery and appendectomy (Group 1) which composed of twenty patients (14 males and six females) with their ages ranged from 3 to 18 years, and patients treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage and interval appendectomy (Group 2) which composed of 25 patients, (15 males and ten females) with their ages ranged from 2 to 18 years.
Results:
Group 1 included twenty patients and Group 2 included 25 patients. In Group 1, on USG the average size of the abscess was 7.2 ± 2.5 cm. After the surgery regained their functional recovery during a mean period of 3.2 ± 1 days. In Group 2, on USG average abscess size was 6.8 ± 2.4 cm. After the procedure regained their functional recovery on the second day. No major complications were noted in Group 2. On the contrary, 12 patients (60%) of Group 1 show complications in the form of wound infection in eight children and wound dehiscence in four children.
Conclusions:
USG-guided percutaneous drainage was safe and effective way of management of appendicular abscess.
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