Volume 165, Issue 5 pp. 465-467
Original Article

Early discharge after appendicectomy in children

First published: 20 November 2003
Citations: 16

Abstract

Objective:

To confirm that “day-care” appendicectomy is safe in children.

Design:

Prospective study.

Settings:

Paediatric hospitals, Brazil.

Subjects:

144 children who required removal of the appendix.

Interventions:

Standard muscle splitting appendicectomy.

Main outcome measures:

Hospital stay, use of antibiotics, and complications.

Results:

124 patients (86%) were discharged within 24 hours of operation. In all patients the appendicitis was confirmed and grouped according to histopatologycal findings (72 inflamed, 26 gangrenous and 26 perforated). 86 patients (60%) were given metronidazole one hour before operation as prophylaxis against postoperative abscess formation. 78 (54%) were given no antibiotics in the postoperative period. 2 patients were readmitted for drainage of intraperitoneal abscesses and 10 had subcutaneous abscesses drained as outpatients during the early postoperative period. The overall infective complication rate was 8% (n = 12), which is comparable with large series of appendicectomy in children.

Conclusions:

“Day-care” appendicectomy is safe and feasible in children, as it avoids a long hospital stay and increased costs with no additional risk. Copyright © 1999 Taylor and Francis Ltd.

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