Appendicitis (peds): Difference between revisions

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''For adult patients see [[appendicitis]]''
{{Peds top}} [[appendicitis]]
==Background==
==Background==
*Most common between 9-12yr
*Most common between 9-12yr

Revision as of 22:49, 28 November 2019

This page is for pediatric patients. For adult patients, see: appendicitis

Background

  • Most common between 9-12yr
  • Perforation rate 90% in children <4yr
  • NPV of 98% achieved if:
    • Lack of nausea (or emesis or anorexia)
    • Lack of maximal TTP in the RLQ
    • Lack of neutrophil count > 6750

Clinical Features

  • Local tenderness + McBurney's point rigidity most reliable clinical sign

Neonates

Infants (30 days - 2 yrs)

Preschool (2 - 5yrs)

School-age (6 - 12yrs)

Adolescents (>12yrs)

  • Present similar to adults
    • RLQ pain
    • Vomiting (occurs after onset of abdominal pain)
    • Anorexia

Differential Diagnosis

Pediatric Abdominal Pain

0–3 Months Old

3 mo–3 y old

3 y old–adolescence

Evaluation

Pediatric Appendicitis Score

Nausea/vomiting +1
Anorexia +1
Migration of pain to RLQ +1
Fever +1
Cough/percussion/hopping tenderness +2
RLQ tenderness +2
Leucocytosis (WBC > 10,000) +1
Neutrophilia (ANC > 7,500) +1
  • Score ≤ 2
    • Low risk (0-2.5%)
    • Consider discharge home with close follow up
  • Score 3-6
    • Indeterminate risk
    • Consider serial exams, consultation, or imaging
  • Score ≥ 7
    • High risk
    • Consider surgical consultation

Pediatric Appendicitis Risk Calculator (pARC)

  • pARC score shown to outperform Pediatric Appendicitis Score. pARC score accurately assesses risk of appendicitis in children age 5 years and older in community EDs [1]

Laboratory Findings

  • WBC
    • <10K is a negative predictor of appendicitis
  • Urinalysis
    • 7-25% of patients with appendicitis have sterile pyuria

Imaging

Consider in intermediate or higher risk patients

  • Ultrasound
    • Sn: 88%, Sp: 94%
    • Consider as 1st choice in non-obese children
    • Indeterminate ultrasound and an Alvarado <5 has an NPV of 99.6%[2]
  • CT with contrast
    • Sn: 94%, Sp: 95%
    • Consider if ultrasound is equivocal OR strong suspicion despite normal ultrasound

Management

Disposition

  • Admission

See Also

References

  1. Cotton D, et al., Validation of the Pediatric Appendicitis Risk Calculator (pARC) in a Community Emergency Department Setting. Annals Emrg. Med. 2019; 74(4) 471-480
  2. Blitman, et al. Value of focused appendicitis ultrasound and Alverado score in predicting appendicitis in children: Can we reduce the use of CT? AJR. 2015; 204:W707-W712.
  3. Yardeni D et al. Single daily dosing ceftriaxone and metronidazole vs standard triple antibiotic regimen for perforated appendicitis in children: a prospective randomized trial. J Pediatr Surg. 2008 Jun; 43(6): 981–985.