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Erschienen in:
14.09.2018 | Original Article
Home intravenous versus oral antibiotics following appendectomy for perforated appendicitis in children: a randomized controlled trial
Erschienen in: Pediatric Surgery International | Ausgabe 12/2018
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Purpose
To compare the effect of home intravenous (IV) versus oral antibiotic therapy on complication rates and resource utilization following appendectomy for perforated appendicitis.
Methods
This was a randomized controlled trial of patients aged 4–17 with surgically treated perforated appendicitis from January 2011 to November 2013. Perforation was defined intraoperatively and divided into three grades: I—contained perforation, II—localized contamination to right gutter/pelvis, and III—diffuse contamination. Patients were randomized to complete a ten-day course of home antibiotic therapy with either IV ertapenem or oral amoxicillin–clavulanate. Thirty-day postoperative complication rates including abscess, readmission, wound infection, and charges were compared.
Results
Eighty-two patients were enrolled. Forty four (54%) were randomized to the IV group and 38 (46%) to the oral group. IV patients were older (12.3 ± 3.6 versus 10.1 ± 3.6, p < 0.05) with higher BMI (20.9 ± 5.8 versus 17.9 ± 3.5, p < 0.05). There were no differences in gender, comorbidities, or perforation grade (I—20.4% vs. 26.3%, II—36.4% vs. 34.2%, III—43.2% vs. 39.5%, all p > 0.05). Comparing IV to oral, there was no difference in length of stay (4.4 ± 1.5 versus 4.4 ± 2.0 days, p > 0.05), postoperative abscess rate (11.6% vs. 8.1%, p > 0.05), or readmission rate (14.0% vs. 16.2%, p > 0.05). Hospital and outpatient charges were higher in the IV group (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Oral antibiotics had equivalent outcomes and incurred fewer charges than IV antibiotics following appendectomy for perforated appendicitis.