A state-wide evaluation of appendectomy in children.
BACKGROUND
Traditional management of appendicitis in children involves open appendectomy (OA), an operation that is relatively inexpensive and carries few risks and complications. However, little information is available regarding the use, cost, and complication of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) in children.


METHODS
Our initial aim was to determine if LA is frequently performed in children (<15 years). We then compared the surgical results of OA versus LA. In conjunction with the Missouri Department of Health, we evaluated 793 children treated for appendicitis throughout the state between January 1997 and June 1997. The authors were blinded to the patient, surgeon, and hospital; no children were excluded.


RESULTS
LA was infrequently performed in children with advanced disease. Overall, children undergoing LA were older and had a shorter hospitalization but no difference in hospital charge. When separated by child age, LA was associated with a shorter length of stay in all groups (0 to 5, 6 to 10, and 11 to 15 years) but only children in the 6 to 10 year range had a lower hospital charge when compared with patients undergoing OA.


CONCLUSIONS
LA is becoming a common surgical approach for older children with simple appendicitis. Furthermore, these data suggest that LA, independent of individual surgeon or medical center, is associated with a decreased length of hospitalization without a significant difference in hospital charge.
Kokoska
E R
ER
Department of Surgery, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center and Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Missouri, USA.
Murayama
K M
KM
Silen
M L
ML
Miller
T A
TA
Dillon
P A
PA
Weber
T R
TR
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology