United States: An appendectomy has been a routine cystectomy for generations now in our society.
Still, a new research shows that antibiotics should be used to manage appendicitis most of the time instead of surgery.
Study Highlights
Scientists said that applying antibiotics to uncomplicated cases of appendicitis reduces kids’ pain and days out of school, according to Journal of the American College of Surgeons, as reported by HealthDay.
The study also shows that it is less costly to undertake than appendectomy does as well.
Reducing Pain, Absences, and Costs
“This cost analysis demonstrates that nonoperative management for pediatric uncomplicated acute appendicitis is the most cost-effective management strategy over one year, compared to upfront surgery,” researcher Dr. Peter Minneci, chair of surgery at Nemours Children’s Health in Wilmington, Del., said in a news release.
Childhood appendicitis ranks as the fifth reason for children seeking hospitalization in the United States, according to the study authors. Appendectomy is reported to be the most frequent operation carried out in children who had been admitted to a hospital.
Parent and Patient Preferences
In this study, Out of 1,000 children aged between 7 and 17 diagnosed with uncomplicated appendicitis and treated at multiple hospitals in Midwest between 2015 and 2018 were reviewed.
Parents were offered one of two options for their child: to have an appendix taken out or to be given IV antibiotics for at least a day, in the hope of surgery being averted.
Scientists added that 65 percent of parents chose surgery instead of antibiotics for their children.
Yet, the kids who received antibiotics fared slightly better in terms of quality-of-life after the treatment than those who underwent surgery, it established.
Likewise, the antibiotics’ cost was lower; an average of $8,044 for patients compared to $9,791 for those who underwent appendectomy, as reported by HealthDay.
A Safe and Cost-Effective Approach
“Our study findings add an additional benefit to the antibiotics-only approach being safe and effective for children in that this strategy is shown to be cost effective,” Minneci said. “In short, nonoperative management is a safe and cost-effective initial therapy and a reasonable alternative to surgery.”
Next, the researchers will analyze the failure rates of each treatment and see whether children with appendicitis can receive antibiotics at home instead of in a hospital.