Dataset Information

Appendiceal spirochaetosis in children.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency in which the appendix is surgically removed to prevent peritonitis due to perforation of the appendix. Depending on age and gender, up to 17% of removed appendices do not show the histopathological changes pathognomonic for acute appendicitis and are called 'pseudo-appendicitis'. Intestinal spirochaetes have been reported in up to 12.3% of these non-inflamed appendices obtained from adults. Although children carry the highest risk for acute appendicitis, not much is known on the prevalence of intestinal spirochaetes in children. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between pseudo-appendicitis and appendiceal spirochaetosis in children. METHODS:Archival appendix specimens from paediatric patients (less than 18 years old) were obtained from two Dutch hospitals (acute appendicitis, n?=?63; pseudo-appendicitis, n?=?55; control appendices, n?=?33) and microscopically analysed by H&E staining and spirochaete-specific immunohistochemistry and Brachyspira species specific real-time PCR. RESULTS:Five out of 142 appendices were found to be positive, all in male patients: one in the acute appendicitis group, two in the pseudo-appendicitis group and two in the control group. CONCLUSION:The results obtained do not provide evidence for a role of Brachyspira species infection in the aetiology of acute appendicitis in children.

SUBMITTER: Westerman LJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4029455 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Appendiceal spirochaetosis in children.

Westerman Laurens J LJ Schipper Marguerite Ei ME Stel Herbert V HV Bonten Marc Jm MJ Kusters Johannes G JG

Gut pathogens 20131213 1

<h4>Background</h4>Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency in which the appendix is surgically removed to prevent peritonitis due to perforation of the appendix. Depending on age and gender, up to 17% of removed appendices do not show the histopathological changes pathognomonic for acute appendicitis and are called 'pseudo-appendicitis'. Intestinal spirochaetes have been reported in up to 12.3% of these non-inflamed appendices obtained from adults. Although children carry the highest risk for ...[more]

PMID: 24330703

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Project description:BackgroundAppendiceal mass and abscess and its treatment are associated with significant morbidity and high costs. Still, the optimal treatment strategy is the point of debate. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare overall complications between initial non-operative treatment (NOT) and early appendectomy (EA) in children with appendiceal mass and/or abscess.MethodsPubmed and Embase were searched. Only randomized controlled trials and prospective or historical cohort studies that compared NOT with EA in children with appendiceal mass or abscess in terms of complications were eligible for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed. Primary outcome was the overall complication rate. Secondary, length of stay and readmission rate were investigated. A meta-analysis of overall complications associated with both treatment strategies was performed.Results14 of 7083 screened studies were selected, including 1022 children in the NOT group and 333 in the EA group. Duration of follow-up ranged between four weeks and 12 years. Risk of bias was moderate in four and serious in 10 studies. NOT was associated with a lower overall complication rate (risk ratio (RR) 0.37 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21-0.65]). However, NOT led to increased length of stay (mean difference varied between 0.2 and 8.4 days) and higher readmission rate (RR 1.75 [95%CI 0.79-3.89]), although not significantly. Interval appendectomy after NOT was performed as a routine procedure in all but one study. This study found a recurrence rate of 34% in a group of 38 patients during a follow-up period of 3.4 ± 1.7 years.ConclusionNOT may reduce the overall complication rate compared to EA, but the evidence is very uncertain. As evidence is scarce, and of low level, and heterogeneity between studies is substantial, the results should be interpreted with caution. Large prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment strategy for children with appendiceal mass and/or abscess.

Dataset Information

Appendiceal spirochaetosis in children.

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Appendiceal spirochaetosis in children.

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