Population-based analysis of the risk of adhesion-related readmissions after abdominal surgery in children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to quantify the risk of adhesion-related readmissions after abdominal surgery in children.


METHODS
This was a population-based study. One thousand five hundred eighty-one children younger than 16 years underwent laparotomy in 1996. Patients were identified from the Scottish Morbidity Records database and followed up for 4 years.


RESULTS
In children younger than 5 years, 4.2% had a readmission "directly" owing to adhesions. In children younger than 16 years, 1.1% had a readmission directly owing to adhesions. The highest risk of readmission followed surgery on the small intestine (9.3%), followed by abdominal wall surgery (5.8%), duodenal surgery (2.6%), colonic surgery (2.1%), and appendicectomy (0.3%). 55% of all readmissions occurred in the first year.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no difference in readmission rates between younger and older children when comparing the organ on which surgery was initially performed. The highest readmission rate followed small intestinal surgery and the lowest followed appendicectomy. The risk of readmission was highest in the first year.
Grant
Hugh W
HW
Department of Paediatric Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK. hugh.grant@orh.nhs.uk
Parker
Michael C
MC
Wilson
Malcolm S
MS
Menzies
Donald
D
Sunderland
Graham
G
Thompson
Jeremy N
JN
Clark
David N
DN
Knight
Alastair D
AD
Crowe
Alison M
AM
Ellis
Harold
H
D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012306:Risk; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*