Peritoneal lavage during laparoscopic appendectomy for complex appendicitis is associated with increased...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Appendicitis is a common pediatric surgical condition.
• Laparoscopic appendectomy is the standard surgical approach.
• The role of intraperitoneal lavage in complicated appendicitis is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the outcomes of intraperitoneal lavage versus suction only in children with complicated appendicitis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data collection from January 2018 to January 2019.
• Inclusion of all pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis.
• Comparison of outcomes including length of stay, temperature spikes, operative times, and readmission rates between lavage and suction-only groups.

Main Results:

• The lavage group (n=52) had significantly longer length of stay (P=0.0054), more temperature spikes (P=0.0109), and longer operative times (P<0.0001) compared to the suction-only group (n=63).
• Readmission rates for intra-abdominal collections were higher in the lavage group.

Conclusions:

• Intraperitoneal lavage provides no advantage in managing complicated appendicitis in children.
• Suction-only management is associated with better short-term outcomes and comparable readmission rates for intra-abdominal collections.