Pediatric anesthesia & critical care
Risk factors for complications after emergency surgery for paediatric appendicitis: a national prospective observational cohort study
Authors' conclusion
In the UK NHS, which is a universally accessible healthcare system, ethnicity, but not socio-economic status, was associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications in children having surgery for acute appendicitis.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 1–16 y undergoing surgery for suspected appendicitis, UK, November 2019 to January 2022
- Participants
- 2,799 children · 80 hospitals
- Exposure
- Risk factors for postoperative complications
- Outcome
- Postoperative morbidity
- Follow-up
- 30 days
Methodological detailsmulticentre, national, multivariable regression analysis
- Multicentre
- National
- Multivariable regression analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
30-day postoperative morbidity: incidence and risk factors
Odds ratio (95% CI)P value
Black ethnic groupindependent of socio-economic status and histological type of appendicitis
4.13(1.87–9.08)
P < 0.001'Other' minority ethnic groupsindependent of socio-economic status and histological type of appendicitis
2.08(1.12–3.87)
P = 0.021ASA physical status ≥ 3
4.05(1.70–9.67)
P = 0.002Raised C-reactive protein
1.01(1.00–1.01)
P < 0.001Pyrexia
1.77(1.20–2.63)
P = 0.004Peri-operative oxygen supplementation
4.20(1.44–12.24)
P = 0.009- Children developing postoperative complications
- 185 (7%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Risk factors for complications after emergency surgery for paediatric appendicitis: a national prospective observational cohort study. Anaesthesia. Published 22 February 2024. doi:10.
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