Operation with appendectomy for appendiceal mass carries a high risk of complications compared with conservative treatment or drainage .
Drainage may lower the risk of treatment failure but entails a risk of complications .
INTRODUCTION The treatment strategy for appendiceal mass is controversial , ranging from operation or image-guided drainage to conservative treatment with or without antibiotics .
The aim of this study was to assess the various treatment modalities with respect to complications and treatment failure .
Resource utilization and outcomes from percutaneous drainage and interval appendectomy for perforated appendicitis with abscess.
OBJECTIVE Given the perceived technical dem and s of laparoscopic appendectomy and the expected postoperative morbidity in patients with a well-defined abscess , initial percutaneous drainage has become an attractive option in this patient population . This strategy allows for a laparoscopic appendectomy to be performed in an elective manner at the convenience of the surgeon . However , the medical burden on the patient and on the quality of patient outcomes has not been described in the literature . Therefore , we audited our experience with initial percutaneous drainage followed by laparoscopic interval appendectomy to evaluate the need for a prospect i ve trial . METHODS After institutional review board approval , a retrospective chart review was performed on all children who presented with perforated appendicitis and a well-defined abscess and were treated by initial percutaneous aspiration/drainage followed by interval appendectomy between January 2000 and September 2006 . Continuous variables are listed with st and ard deviation . RESULTS There were 52 patients with a mean age of 9.0 + /- 3.9 years and weight of 34.4 + /- 18.8 kg . The  mean duration of symptoms at presentation was 8.4 + /- 7.6 days . Percutaneous aspiration only was performed in 2 patients . The mean volume of fluid on initial aspiration/drain placement was 76.3 + /- 81.1 mL. The mean time to appendectomy was 61.9 + /- 25.2 days . The laparoscopic approach was used in 49 patients ( 94.2 % ) , of which one was converted to an open operation . The mean length of hospitalization after interval appendectomy was 1.4 + /- 1.4 days . A recurrent abscess developed in 17.3 % of the patients . Six patients ( 11.5 % ) required another drainage procedure . The mean total charge to the patients was $ 40,414.02 . There were 4 significant drain complications ( ileal perforation , colon perforation , bladder perforation , and buttock/thigh necrotizing abscess ) . The child with the ileal perforation after drain placement is the only patient who failed initial nonoperative therapy . CONCLUSIONS The use of initial percutaneous aspiration/drainage of periappendiceal abscess followed by interval appendectomy is an effective approach . However , this management poses complication risks and uses considerable re sources . Therefore , this strategy should be compared with early operation in a prospect i ve trial
Operation with appendectomy for appendiceal mass carries a high risk of complications compared with conservative treatment or drainage .
Drainage may lower the risk of treatment failure but entails a risk of complications .
INTRODUCTION The treatment strategy for appendiceal mass is controversial , ranging from operation or image-guided drainage to conservative treatment with or without antibiotics .
The aim of this study was to assess the various treatment modalities with respect to complications and treatment failure .