Study of Paediatric Appendicitis Scores and Management Strategies in Children Aged 5 to < 18 years presenting to Australian and New Zealand Emergency Departments

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: appendicitis; abdominal pain; Emergency medicine - Other emergency care; Surgery - Other surgery; Public Health - Health service research

• Registration Number: ACTRN12622001293752
• Lead Sponsor: Professor Meredith Borland

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-10-06
• Last Update Posted: 24 June 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2000

Inclusion Criteria

1) Age 5 years to <18 years
2) Presentation with generalised or right-sided abdominal pain
3) Duration of pain for less than or equal to 7 days (less than or equal to 168 hours)
4) Clinician concern for the possible diagnosis of appendicitis as defined by:
i.Investigations performed (bloods/imaging, including external investigations)
ii.Surgical consultation to assess patient for appendicitis
iii.Senior clinician consultation to assess patient for appendicitis
iv.Period of observation in ED to re-assess patient for appendicitis

Exclusion Criteria

1) Abdominal trauma which required medical review within last 7 days
2) Previous significant abdominal surgery (e.g. appendectomy, short gut, ileostomy, Hirschsprungs)
3) Chronic illnesses which may affect the abdomen (including inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anaemia)
4) Pregnancy
5) Inability to obtain accurate history (e.g. parent/guardian unavailable, language other than English AND no interpreter available, or patient non-verbal due to pre-existing medical condition)

Study & Design

• Study Type: Observational
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Presence of appendicitis confirmed through histopathology report when available, or operation report if not available[ Within 7 days of hospital presentation]