title: Prolonged length of stay and many readmissions after appendectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of appendicitis seems to be changing; the proportion of complicated appendicitis cases is growing. The outcome of childhood appendectomy in Denmark has not previously been evaluated nationwide in Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on all Danish children treated for appendicitis were obtained from the National Patient Registry. Reoperation, readmittance or length of hospital stay (LOS) exceeding five days were considered nonsatisfactory outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,617 children, 55% boys and 45% girls, were operated at 32 hospitals. Their mean age was 11.1 years. Mortality was 0%. A laparoscopic procedure was used in 34% of the cases. The medians of the postoperative LOS were one day for both the open and laparoscopic appendectomy groups, the corresponding means were 2.5 and 2.0 days (p<0.05). 4.5% had one or more reoperations. 18% had a LOS>5 days or readmittance. The typical reasons were wound infection, need for prolonged antibiotics treatment and simple, prolonged recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Danish practice for appendicitis has acceptable rates of reoperation, medians and means of LOS, and a rate of readmission which is comparable to that reported in other studies. However, a nonsatisfactory outcome after appendectomy in about 20% calls for improvement and further studies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Not relevant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Not relevant.
authors: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Børnekirurgisk Afdeling C, Rigshospitalet, 2100 København Ø , Denmark. lj@dadlnet.dk
authors: Lars Søndergaard
authors: LS
authors: Johansen
authors: Jørgen Mogens
authors: JM
authors: Thorup
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Rasmussen
authors: Zubair Butt
authors: ZB
authors: Hussain
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Kehlet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure