Impact of mobilization intervention on recovery outcomes after pediatric appendectomy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Postoperative Recovery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Acute appendectomy is a common pediatric surgical procedure.
• Early postoperative mobilization is crucial for recovery but requires further investigation in pediatric populations.
• Understanding the impact of initial mobilizations on recovery metrics is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the relationship between the first three postoperative mobilizations within 24 hours and key recovery indicators in children (3-18 years) undergoing appendectomy.
• To analyze mobilization time, duration, pain levels, oral intake, flatus passage, and discharge time.
• To establish baseline data for optimizing early mobilization protocols.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, prospective, descriptive study involving 100 children aged 3-18 years who underwent appendectomy.
• Data collected using Patient Information Form, Postoperative Follow-up Form, and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale.
• Mobilization time, duration, and pain were meticulously recorded for the first, second, and third mobilizations.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences were observed in mobilization times, duration, and pain scores across the first three mobilizations (p < 0.001).
• Mean time to first oral intake was 5.73 hours, first flatus was 10.41 hours, and discharge was 22.97 hours.
• The average number of mobilizations within the first 24 hours was 10.97.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative mobilization in children following appendectomy leads to improvements in mobilization metrics and reduced pain.
• Early and consistent mobilization appears to support faster recovery and better postoperative outcomes.
• Monitoring mobilization parameters is key to optimizing recovery and determining discharge readiness.