Related Experiment Videos
[Outcome of nonsurgically treated pseudoappendicular syndromes in children. Retrospective study of 479 cases]
Insights
Non-surgical management of pseudo-appendicular syndromes in children can be effective. Many children experience remission without surgery, indicating conservative treatment is a viable option for these cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
Context:
- Retrospective analysis of 479 children admitted for pseudo-appendicular syndromes.
- Focus on cases not initially treated with surgery.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the outcomes of non-surgical management for pediatric pseudo-appendicular syndromes.
- To determine the long-term efficacy of observation and conservative treatment.
Summary:
- Precise diagnoses were made in 186 cases during initial admission.
- Follow-up data (clinical examination or questionnaires) were obtained for 263 children.
- 205 children (78%) experienced no further abdominal pain, 24 had recurrent symptoms, and 34 underwent surgery (12.9% of follow-ups).
Impact:
- Findings support avoiding surgery in select pediatric pseudo-appendicular syndrome cases.
- Conservative management is justified when atypical symptoms, negative investigations, and remission are observed.
Abstract:
A retrospective study was conducted to assess outcome in 479 children admitted to a surgical pediatric department with pseudo-appendicular syndromes untreated by surgery. A precise diagnosis had been made during the first admission in 186 cases. At a later date, each child had been examined clinically and a detailed history taken, or a questionnaire was sent to the families or treating physician. Replies were received concerning 263 children, including 205 who had had no further episode of abdominal pain, 24 who had had similar atypical bouts of abdominal pain and 34 who had been operated upon at a later date (representing 12.9% of replies). These findings would appear to justify avoidance of surgery, after admission for observation, whenever the atypical symptomatology, negative results of paraclinical investigations and the progression towards total remission of the affection is observed.