title: Impact of In-Hospital Timing to Appendectomy on Perforation Rates in Children with Appendicitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is controversy regarding whether in-hospital time delay to appendectomy in children with appendicitis affects risk for perforation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the impact of time delay from emergency department (ED) presentation to operating room (OR) appendectomy on rates of developing appendiceal perforation in children who present with computed tomography (CT)-confirmed, uncomplicated (no radiographic evidence of perforation) appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective case review of 248 consecutive children aged ≤18 years with CT-confirmed uncomplicated appendicitis during a 4-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 149 males and 99 females, all received subsequent appendectomy. Despite all receiving ED parenteral antibiotic therapy, 54 (22%) developed in-hospital appendiceal perforation (surgeon operative observation or pathologist histologic analysis). No patient developed perforation when appendectomy was performed within 9 h after ED presentation; the rate of perforation was approximately sixfold greater in those with in-hospital delay >9 h (25%) vs. ≤9 h (4.6%). The rate of developing perforation increased to 21% during hours 9-24, and 41% after 24 h. Regression analysis showed three factors were significantly associated with developing perforation: longer mean time delay from ED presentation to OR appendectomy, presence of fever, and presence of an appendicolith. The risk for developing perforation increased by 1.10 for each hour of time delay from ED presentation to OR appendectomy; the estimated odds ratios for developing perforation per interval of in-hospital delay were 2.05 at 8 h, 4.22 at 16 h, and 8.67 at 24 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing in-hospital time delay from ED presentation to OR appendectomy is associated with increased risk for developing appendiceal perforation in children who present with CT-documented uncomplicated appendicitis. Risk is approximately sixfold greater in those who experience delay >9 h vs. those whose delay is ≤9 h. Antibiotic therapy does not reliably prevent progression of the disease. Appendectomy should be considered an urgent procedure to maximize outcomes and prevent complications associated with appendix perforation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bonadio
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brazg
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Nadya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Telt
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Marybelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pe
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Ferrin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dancy
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Maili
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: appendicitis; perforation