Shared decision-making in acute uncomplicated appendicitis: A case-based approach

It is reasonable to offer nonoperative management (NOM) of acute uncomplicated appendicitis as an alternative treatment option to appendectomy in cases meeting established evidence-based criteria. As public awareness of this option has increased, patients and families are more likely to inquire about NOM. Shared decision-making (SDM) is well suited for instances where there is not one clear recommended treatment option, as it allows the patient and family's preferences and values to be prioritized. When applying SDM to the pediatric patient, both the patient and the family should be included in the decision-making process. We provide case-based examples of SDM for determining the treatment course for pediatric patients with acute uncomplicated appendicitis.