Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The epidemiology of appendicitis seems to be changing; the proportion of complicated appendicitis cases is growing. The outcome of childhood appendectomy in Denmark has not previously been evaluated nationwide in Denmark. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on all Danish children treated for appendicitis were obtained from the National Patient Registry. Re-operation, re-admittance or length of hospital stay (LOS) exceeding five days were considered non-satisfactory outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 2,617 children, 55% boys and 45% girls, were operated at 32 hospitals. Their mean age was 11.1 years. Mortality was 0%. A laparoscopic procedure was used in 34% of the cases. The medians of the postoperative LOS were one day for both the open and laparoscopic appendectomy groups, the corresponding means were 2.5 and 2.0 days (p < 0.05). 4.5% had one or more re-operations. 18% had a LOS > 5 days or re-admittance. The typical reasons were wound infection, need for prolonged antibiotics treatment and simple, prolonged recovery. CONCLUSION: The Danish practice for appendicitis has acceptable rates of re-operation, medians and means of LOS, and a rate of re-admission which is comparable to that reported in other studies. However, a non-satisfactory outcome after appendectomy in about 20% calls for improvement and further studies. FUNDING: not relevant TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Danish Medical Bulletin (Online) |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Pages (from-to) | A4296 |
| ISSN | 1603-9629 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2011 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Age Factors
- Appendectomy
- Appendicitis
- Chi-Square Distribution
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Denmark
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Length of Stay
- Male
- Patient Readmission
- Registries
- Statistics, Nonparametric
- Time Factors
- Treatment Failure