Role of conservative management of acute appendicitis in pediatric age: a monocentric experience

Historically, appendectomy was the standard treatment for acute appendicitis (AA). Recently, interest has grown in conservative management of uncomplicated AA (UA). This study compared outcomes between non-operative management (NOM) and appendectomy, exploring preoperative factors to guide optimal UA management. In a monocentric retrospective study, we reviewed data on 774 pediatric patients with a primary diagnosis of AA from July 2017 to July 2022. We analyzed demographic, clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound data at first and last admission. Operated patients were stratified by management type and surgery timing. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Of the 530 children (68.5%) who underwent surgery at first admission, 316 had UA and 214 had CA. The 244 patients (31.5%) not indicated for surgery received intravenous antibiotics. Of these, 104 underwent appendectomy at second admission, with 9 presenting CA, requiring multiple antibiotic therapy and a hospital stay of 9.1 +/- 3.1 days. Twenty-eight underwent surgery at their third admission and 112 never underwent surgery. In conclusion, more invasive approach may be preferable for patients with significant clinical signs at first presentation, minimizing hospital stay, costs, antibiotic use, and complications. Further studies on NOM in acute appendicitis are essential to optimize its use.