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.

Acute appendicitis in preschool-age children.

Sakellaris G, Tilemis S, Charissis G

Department of Paediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. gsakell@mycosmos.gr

During the last 11 years, 122 children aged less than 5 years underwent appendectomy with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis. At surgery, 29 children (24%) presented with acute suppurative appendicitis, 64 children (52%) perforated appendices and 26 children (21%) with appendiceal abscess. In three cases (2%) there was no acute intra-abdominal process. In this study the following data were analysed: age, gender, symptoms, duration of symptoms, whether seen by a physician prior to admission and surgery, physical findings, stage of the disease at operation, histology, postoperative complications and mortality. CONCLUSION: The accurate diagnosis in early childhood appendicitis is still a difficult matter. The responsibility of the paediatric surgeon is mainly the clinical examination with all his clinical skills and facilities and if serious doubt still exists, to proceed with a laparotomy in order to reach a definite diagnosis.

Published 10 February 2005 in Eur J Pediatr, 164(2): 80-3.
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