Appendicitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Appendicitis, including details on symptoms, surgery, causes, treatment.

Omental Infarction in Children.

Rimon A, Daneman A, Gerstle JT, Ratnapalan S

From the Division of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Paediatrics (A.R., S.R.), Department of Diagnostic Imaging (A.D.), and Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery (J.T.G.), The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinical presentation, radiologic features, management, and outcome in children diagnosed with omental infarction. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with omental infarction in a tertiary care pediatric emergency department. Images and reports of the radiologic investigations were re-examined by a staff radiologist and analyzed for sensitivity. RESULTS: A diagnosis of omental infarction was made in 19 children (mean age, 9.3 +/- 3.5 years). The presentation was acute right lower quadrant pain in 47% of the children and associated gastrointestinal symptoms in 63%. The sensitivity of abdominal ultrasound (US) to detect omental infarction at our institution was 64%, and the sensitivity of abdominal computed tomography was 90%. Fourteen children were treated conservatively without complications after an accurate diagnosis of omental infarction done by imaging examination. Only 5 children underwent surgery based on clinical suspicion of appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: Early identification of omental infarction by abdominal US appears to prevent unjustified surgical procedures and reduce the length of hospital stay.

Published 22 June 2009 in J Pediatr.
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Articles on Appendicitis published 22 June 2009:

Efficacy of laparoscopy in complicated appendicitis.   Int J Surg, 7(3): 250-2.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic appendectomy has been widely practiced for uncomplicated appendicitis. The role of laparoscopy in management of complicated appendicitis remains undefined. We undertook this study to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic appendectomy in patients with complicated appendicitis. METHOD: This study involved a total of 110 consecutive patients who had undergone appendectomy for perforated or gangrenous appendicitis between March 2004 and December 2008. Sixty-one patients ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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Articles on Appendicitis published 18 June 2009:

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Retrospective Study on Home Care for Patients with Hematologic Malignancies.   Jpn J Clin Oncol.

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Articles on Appendicitis published 16 June 2009:

Appendicitis in pregnancy: experience of thirty eight patients diagnosed and managed at a tertiary care hospital in karachi.   Int J Surg.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of acute appendicitis complicating pregnancy at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a retrospective analytical case note review of all patients clinically diagnosed with acute appendicitis during pregnancy at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi from January 01, 1990 to July 31, 2006. RESULTS: During the review period, 38 pregnant patients were diagnosed with acute ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Appendicitis published 15 June 2009:

Laparoscopic appendectomy: burden or benefit? A single-center experience.   J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A, 19(3): 427-9.

Abstract Background: Although laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is now a common practice, it has not yet become the standard of care because it has no clear advantage when compared to open appendectomy (OA), especially in cases of complicated appendicitis. Moreover, the literature reports an increased incidence of postoperative infections with LA. Aim: To review our center's experience with LA and to compare it to the literature. Methods: All LAs performed between January 2004 and October 2007 ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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