Abstract
The definition of uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis has been debated for decades. Many agree that a visible hole in the appendix or a fecalith in the abdomen signifies complicated appendicitis; however, controversy exists in the wide spectrum of disease that includes findings of suppurative, phlegmonous, and/or gangrenous appendicitis. Appropriate categorization of patients with complicated appendicitis is important in order to employ the proper treatment pathway and reduce the risk of postoperative abscess formation and other associated complications.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Andersson RE. The natural history and traditional management of appendicitis revisited: spontaneous resolution and predominance of prehospital perforations imply that a correct diagnosis is more important than an early diagnosis. World J Surg. 2007;31(1):86–92.
Atema JJ, van Rossem CC, Leeuwenburgh MM, Stoker J, Boermeester MA. Scoring system to distinguish uncomplicated from complicated acute appendicitis. Br J Surg. 2015;102(8):979–90.
Newman K, Ponsky T, Kittle K, Dyk L, Throop C, Gieseker K, et al. Appendicitis 2000: variability in practice, outcomes, and resource utilization at thirty pediatric hospitals. J Pediatr Surg. 2003;38(3):372–9; discussion 9.
St Peter SD, Sharp SW, Holcomb GW 3rd, Ostlie DJ. An evidence-based definition for perforated appendicitis derived from a prospective randomized trial. J Pediatr Surg. 2008;43(12):2242–5.
Rentea RM, St Peter SD. Pediatric appendicitis. Surg Clin North Am. 2017;97(1):93–112.
Bhangu A, Soreide K, Di Saverio S, Assarsson JH, Drake FT. Acute appendicitis: modern understanding of pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1278–87.
Fallon SC, Kim ME, Hallmark CA, Carpenter JL, Eldin KW, Lopez ME, et al. Correlating surgical and pathological diagnoses in pediatric appendicitis. J Pediatr Surg. 2015;50(4):638–41.
Li Z, Zhao L, Cheng Y, Cheng N, Deng Y. Abdominal drainage to prevent intra-peritoneal abscess after open appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5:CD010168.
Yau KK, Siu WT, Tang CN, Yang GP, Li MK. Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. J Am Coll Surg. 2007;205(1):60–5.
Vaos G, Dimopoulou A, Gkioka E, Zavras N. Immediate surgery or conservative treatment for complicated acute appendicitis in children? A meta-analysis. J Pediatr Surg. 2018 Jul 27. pii: S0022–3468(18)30478–0. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.07.017. [Epub ahead of print].
Varadhan KK, Neal KR, Lobo DN. Safety and efficacy of antibiotics compared with appendicectomy for treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2012;344:e2156.
Athanasiou C, Lockwood S, Markides GA. Systematic review and meta-analysis of laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy in adults with complicated appendicitis: an update of the literature. World J Surg. 2017;41(12):3083–99.
Fraser JD, Aguayo P, Leys CM, Keckler SJ, Newland JG, Sharp SW, et al. A complete course of intravenous antibiotics vs a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotics for perforated appendicitis in children: a prospective, randomized trial. J Pediatr Surg. 2010;45(6):1198–202.
Emil S, Laberge JM, Mikhail P, Baican L, Flageole H, Nguyen L, et al. Appendicitis in children: a ten-year update of therapeutic recommendations. J Pediatr Surg. 2003;38(2):236–42.
Shbat L, Emil S, Elkady S, Baird R, Laberge JM, Puligandla P, et al. Benefits of an abridged antibiotic protocol for treatment of gangrenous appendicitis. J Pediatr Surg. 2014;49(12):1723–5.
van den Boom AL, de Wijkerslooth EML, Mauff KAL, Dawson I, van Rossem CC, Toorenvliet BR, et al. Interobserver variability in the classification of appendicitis during laparoscopy. Br J Surg. 2018;105(8):1014–9.
Emil S, Gaied F, Lo A, Laberge JM, Puligandla P, Shaw K, et al. Gangrenous appendicitis in children: a prospective evaluation of definition, bacteriology, histopathology, and outcomes. J Surg Res. 2012;177(1):123–6.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Buonpane, C., Goldstein, S. (2019). Defining the Disease: Uncomplicated Versus Complicated Appendicitis. In: Hunter, C. (eds) Controversies in Pediatric Appendicitis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15006-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15006-8_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-15005-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-15006-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)