Appendectomy Blog

Kids With Perforated Appendix May Benefit From Early Surgery

Posted 21 Feb 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Feb. 21 – Early appendectomy is better for children with a perforated appendix than postponing the surgery, a new study finds. The two commonly used surgical options for children with a perforated appendix are early appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix within 24 hours of hospitalization) and what's known as "interval" appendectomy (surgery six to eight weeks after the initial diagnosis). It had been assumed that postponing surgery would allow contamination in the abdominal cavity to resolve, reducing the likelihood of infection. But this study found that early appendectomy was linked to fewer adverse events, such as surgical site infection, intra-abdominal abscess, and unplanned readmission to hospital. There could also be an added benefit for parents and kids from operating early. "We found that those treated with early appendectomy return to normal activities an ... Read more

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