Almost half of children who require surgery for complicated appendicitis can safely complete their recovery at home, according to a new study.
The research, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, found more than 40 per cent who received care in the home following a complex appendectomy recovered faster and had fewer complications.
More than 300 patients present with appendicitis to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) every year, with about one in three experiencing a burst appendix or severe infection.
The study involved 83 children, aged five to 18 years, admitted to the RCH for a complicated appendicectomy, with 35 suitable for the Hospital in the Home (HITH) program. All patients needed at least five days of intravenous antibiotics…