National trends in therapeutic approaches and outcomes for pediatric appendicitis: a Taiwanese nationwide cohort study

To define the pattern of therapeutic approaches for pediatric appendicitis and compare their benefits in Taiwan, we analyzed a research-oriented dataset released by the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan through the Collaboration Center for Health Information Application (CCHIA) to document the impact of the rise of laparoscopic treatment on outcomes.

We identified 22,161 patients under 18 years who had been hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis between 2007 and 2012 in the CCHIA. Statistical comparisons between the Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA, control) groups were computed using a Chi squared test. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95  % confidence intervals (CIs) of risk factors for intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) and postoperative bowel obstruction (PBO) were derived from multivariate logistic regression models.

In each respective year, the incidence of LA increased from 29.17  % in 2007 to 57.4 % in 2012, while that of OA decreased from 70.83 % in 2007 to 42.60 % in 2012; incidences of non-perforated appendicitis and perforated appendicitis with LA or OA seemed similar. The length of hospitalization between an LA and OA for non-perforated appendicitis was the same, but that with an LA was shorter for perforated appendicitis. The adjusted ORs for IAA and PBO for those patients with perforated and non-perforated appendicitis were 6.30 (95 % CI = 5.09–7.78; p < 0.001) and 6.49 (95 % CI = 4.45–9.48; p < 0.001); while for those cases undergoing an LA and OA, they were 0.50 (95 % CI = 0.40–0.62; p < 0.001) and 2.07 (95 % CI = 1.45–2.95; p < 0.001), respectively. The ORs of IAA and PBO for those patients ≤6 and 7–12 years of age were 1.67 (95 % CI = 1.23–2.25; p = 0.001) and 1.20 (95 % CI = 0.97–1.49; p = 0.095), and 1.88 (95 % CI = 1.08–3.24; p = 0.025) and 1.47 (95 % CI = 1.01–2.14; p = 0.043), respectively, compared to those aged 13–18 years.

Our study demonstrated that young age and perforated appendicitis can affect postoperative IAA and PBO. LA appeared beneficial in reducing the length of hospitalization and postoperative IAA, but had an increasing risk of PBO. Although laparoscopic approach for pediatric appendectomy is increasing in our country, the different hospital levels and pediatric surgeon’s laparoscopic experience must be evaluated in further study.