Non-operative Treatment of Acute Non-perforated Appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common presenting conditions in pediatric emergencies. It has an estimated lifetime risk of about 8%. Although it commonly occurs in the second decade of life but 11.4% children are diagnosed with acute appendicitis in the pediatric emergency.

The rationale of my study is that limited local clinical trial is available regarding the efficacy of non-operative treatment with antibiotics vs operative treatment of acute non-perforated appendicitis in children.

All children between 5 and 15 years of age of both genders admitted in the pediatric surgery emergency with having pediatric appendicitis score (PAS anexure 1) >7 will be included in the study.

All the patients inducted in the study will be randomly divided into two groups: Non-operative treatment (group A) and operative treatment (group B), using computer generated number. Each patient will be evaluated and relevant data according to the predesigned questionnaire will be collected and documented. Age, duration of symptoms, body temperature,C-reactive protein, white blood cell, neutrophil concentrations, Ultrasound findings and PAS score will be noted at the time of admission. Children in non-operative treatment group will be given intravenous meropenem (10 mg/kg/dose x IV x TDS) and metronidazole (20 mg/kg/day divided into 3 doses) for at least 48 hours. Once the child starts tolerating oral intake and becomes clinically improved, the treatment will be changed to oral ciprofloxacin (20 mg/kg/day divided into 2 divided doses) and metronidazole (20 mg/kg × 1 per 24 hours) for another 8 days. Supportive care will be given equally to all the patients as protocol of treatment with regular vital monitoring. Improvement or development of complications will be noted. Discharge criteria for both groups will be: afebrile for 24 hours, with or without oral antibiotics, adequate pain relief on oral analgesia assesd by visual analogue scale ( VAS) scale (anexure 2), tolerating a light diet, and mobile.

Failure of non-operative treatment will be defined if any one of the following is seen: abscess formation or complex peri-appendiceal fluid collection seen on ultrasonography, the need for surgery (due to worsening of symptoms evaulated by history, physical examination and repeat ultrasonography) within 48 hours, or recurrence of appendicitis within 3 months.

Patients with recurrence of symptoms of appendicitis (right iliac fossa pain with pediatric appendicitis score >7) after complete resolution previously with non-operated treatment, will be labeled as Recurrent appendicitis.All the data will be collected on a preformed questionnaire. Discharge criteria for both the groups will be: afebrile for 24 hours, with or without oral antibiotics, adequate pain relief on oral analgesia and tolerating a light diet. Patient will be kept on follow-up in group-A for duration of 3 month to 6 month. Patients will be kept on follow-up in Outdoor patients department once in a week till 3 months in group B.

ANNEXURE 1: Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS)

No Symptoms Score

1. Right iliac fossa tenderness to cough, percussion, or hopping 2

2. Migration of pain to Right iliac fossa 1

3. Anorexia 1

4. Fever (Temperature ≥38.0ºC/100.4ºF) 1

5. Nausea or vomiting 1

6. Tenderness over right iliac fossa 2

7. Leukocytosis (WBC >10,000 ) 1

8. Left shift (PMN >7,500 ) 1

Acute Appendicitis if score is >7

Anexure 2 Visual Analogue Scale

0 = Relaxed and comfortable 1-3 = Mild discomfort 4-6 =Moderate pain 7-10 =Severe discomfort or pain or both