Quality of life assessment between laparoscopic appendectomy at presentation and interval appendectomy for perforated appendicitis with abscess: analysis of a prospective randomized trial.

Creator(s)

Jennifer Verrill Schurman, Children’s Mercy Kansas CityFollow
Christopher C. Cushing
Carissa L. Garey
Carrie A. Laituri
Shawn D. St Peter, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2011

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2011.03.038

Abstract

PURPOSE: The current study examined the impact of immediate laparoscopic surgery vs nonoperative initial management followed by interval appendectomy for appendicitis with abscess on child and family psychosocial well-being.

METHODS: After obtaining Internal Review Board approval, 40 patients presenting with a perforated appendicitis and a well-formed abscess were randomized to surgical condition. Parents were asked to complete child quality of life and parenting stress ratings at presentation, at 2 weeks postadmission, and at approximately 12 weeks postadmission (2 weeks postoperation for the interval appendectomy group).

RESULTS: Children in the interval arm experienced trends toward poorer quality of life at 2 and 12 weeks postadmission. However, no group differences in parenting stress were observed at 2 weeks postoperation. At 12 weeks postadmission, participants in the interval condition demonstrated significant impairment in both frequency and difficulty of problems contributing to parenting distress.

CONCLUSION: Families experience significant parenting distress related to the child's functioning and disruption in the child's quality of life that may be because of the delay in fully resolving the child's medical condition. In addition, parents experience negative consequences to their own stress as a result of the delay before the child's appendectomy.

Journal Title

Journal of pediatric surgery

Volume

46

Issue

6

First Page

1121

Last Page

1125

MeSH Keywords

Abdominal Abscess; Acute Disease; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Appendectomy; Appendicitis; Child; Early Diagnosis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome

Keywords

Computed Tomography; Appendicitis; Appendectomy; Quality of life

Recommended Citation

Schurman, J. V., Cushing, C. C., Garey, C. L., Laituri, C. A., St Peter, S. D. Quality of life assessment between laparoscopic appendectomy at presentation and interval appendectomy for perforated appendicitis with abscess: analysis of a prospective randomized trial. Journal of pediatric surgery 46, 1121-1125 (2011).