Pediatric appendicitis in a developing country: what are the clinical predictors and outcome of perforation?

OBJECTIVES This study explored the risk factors and outcomes associated with perforation in children who underwent emergency appendicectomies. METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on children <13 years old who underwent appendicectomies in a Malaysian hospital in 2007. RESULTS One hundred thirty-four children underwent appendicectomies of which 118 were confirmed histologically. Sixty-one (52%) were perforated. Children with perforation had significantly longer duration of symptoms (p < 0.001), higher white cell count and absolute neutrophil counts (p = 0.013), with longer intra-operative period (p < 0.001) and post-operative recovery period (p < 0.001). Of the 52 samples of pus collected intra-operatively, 37 (71.1%) yielded positive cultures that were predominantly Escherichia coli (n = 27). Both the patients who had Staphylococcus aureus cultured from pus collected intra-operatively had significant pyogenic complications (scrotal pyocele and intra-abdominal abscess). CONCLUSION Children whose appendicitis were perforated had longer duration of symptoms, higher white cell counts and absolute neutrophil counts. Those with S.aureus cultured from intra-operative pus appeared to suffer more complications.