Risk Factors to Predict Post-Operative Organ/Space Infection After Appendectomy in the Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Case Control Analysis.

Background

Post-operative organ/space infection (OSI) is associated with prolonged hospital stay or re-admission. Here, we explore the predictors for OSI in pediatric patients after appendectomy. Patients and

Methods

Among post-appendectomy pateints, the OSI was reviewed. A multicenter case control study was conducted to explore the risk factors for OSI among pediatric patients with appendicitis after appendectomy between January 2009 and December 2019. The potential risk factors associated with OSI were explored using multivariable logistic regression methods.

Results

In the current cohort, 723 patients fulfilled the OSI criteria. According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, the occurrence of OSI was associated with complicated appendicitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-3.686; p = 0.016), the lower the level of pre-operative lymphocyte-C-reactive protein (LCR; OR, 14.42; 95% CI, 1.57-73.26; p < 0.001), pan-peritonitis (OR, 4.36; 95% CI, 1.34-21.66; p = 0.006), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS; OR, 8.22; 95% CI, 1.84-49.63; p < 0.001), and abscess presentation (OR, 11.32; 95% CI, 2.03-61.86; p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluation further confirmed the relatively high accuracy of the above factors to predict OSI.

Conclusions

The identified potential risk factors in the current research can be used for OSI identification in patients after appendectomy. Recognition of the risk factors may allow the choice of the treatment process more reasonably.