title: Pediatric appendectomy: the outcome differences between pediatric surgeons and general surgeons.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to review our experience of pediatric appendectomy performed by either a general surgeon (GS) or a pediatric surgeon (PS) to determine any differences in outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of pediatric appendicitis patients, 4 years before (GS group, 2007-2010) and after (PS group, 2011-2014) the introduction of a pediatric surgical practice. The records were reviewed for the following variables: operation time, length of hospital stay, complications, readmission in ≤30 days, type of operation, negative for appendicitis, drainage, open conversion, and reoperation in ≤30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 8 years, 400 patients were operated on for acute appendicitis, with the PS group comprising 61 % (N = 244) of patients. The operation time (55.1 vs 43.2 min, p = 0.0001) and postoperative length of hospital stay (3.5 vs 2.7 days, p = 0.001) were shorter, more patients were treated by laparoscopy (61.3 vs 91.2 %, p = 0.0001), and a fewer patients required peritoneal drainage (29.5 vs 63.2 %, p = 0.023) in the PS group than in the GS group. The negative appendectomy rate was slightly lower in the PS group, but not to a statistically significant degree.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients in the PS group enjoyed a reduced operation time and length of hospital stay, greater likelihood of laparoscopic operation, and less peritoneal drainage than the patients in the GS group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 200-722, South Korea.
authors.forename: Younglim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Songnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyuwhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, 200-722, South Korea. sukbae75.moon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Suk-Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019091:Critical Pathways; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061646:Operative Time; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D066231:Surgeons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: General surgeon; Outcome difference; Pediatric appendicitis; Pediatric surgeon