'Antibiotics, not surgery, best for child appendicitis' says study

Conclusion This was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that compared the removal of the appendix with active observation in children who had previously received non-operative treatment for an appendix mass. The researchers found that appendectomy could be avoided in many cases. Perhaps actively keeping an eye on the child's symptoms and only operating on those that develop appendicitis could be an approach worth considering. This was a well-designed trial and efforts were made to reduce the risk of bias. For example, allocation to groups was concealed at the point of assignment. The trial was also performed at multiple centres, which increases the generalisability of the findings. However there are also limitations. Due to the interventions being compared blinding was not possible in this trial, but objective outcomes were assessed as far as possible. As no formal definition of appendicitis or of a mass was used, the diagnosis was made by the surgeon in charge of the child’s care – this can be subject to bias as each surgeon's opinion is subjective. The active observation group was followed up for only one year, which may not have been long enough to get a true estimate of the risk of recurrent appendicitis. The findings of this trial are interesting as there have been some confusion over the benefits of interval appendectomy and provides useful information for parents and surgeons faced with this decision. Read more about the treatment options for appe...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pregnancy/child Medical practice Source Type: news