Pain and Discomfort After Appendectomy in Children

Acute appendicitis is a diagnosis with clinical findings, laboratory tests and radiological imaging. The main pathology of appendicitis is usually the onset of the inflammatory process in the appendix vermiformis in the right lower abdomen. If untreated, the inflammatory process may progress to the perforation of the appendix and develop peritonitis. Appendectomy is an emergency surgical procedure for treatments of patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis and is the most common surgical procedure (1). Complications of appendectomy are wound site infection, postoperative intestinal adhesions and obstruction, peritonitis, bleeding, inguinal hernia, and chronic abdominal pain.

It is observed that pediatric patients who have undergone abdominal surgical procedure complained of pain and discomfort in the postoperative period (2). It should be noted that these complaints may affect quality of life. To the best of our knowledge, since there is no study in the literature, we aimed to investigate the presence of postoperative chronic abdominal pain and discomfort in children aged 8-18 years underwent appendectomy and their social and physical effects.

After Local Ethics Committee approval had been obtained, the records of children aged 8-18 years who underwent appendectomy, such as age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification score, the type of surgical procedure, and anesthetic technique were obtained from hospital information management system and anesthetic charts. Inclusion criterias were children between the ages of 8-18 years who underwent appendectomy, had ASA I physical score, and those who agree to participate for this research. Children who aged under 8 and over 18 years, had ASA II and those with higher physical score, had previously undergone surgery from the right lower abdomen, had preoperative pain complaint over 6 month, had psychiatric disorders, and whose parents do not agree to participate were excluded in this study. By calling parents, at the 6th month after the surgical procedure, the presence of chronic pain and discomfort were asked via face to face or talking on the phone. The primary endpoint of this study is to investigate the prevalence of chronic pain and discomfort at the 6th month after appendectomy in pediatric patients. The secondary endpoint is to determine the effects of chronic pain on the children's quality of life.

Pain was defined as the presence of intermittent or continuous hurtfully sensation. Discomfort was defined as an abnormal bad feeling. Children were asked whether they felt pain or discomfort while resting, coughing, and exercise. Pain was assessed using verbal numeric rating scale. Their effects on life were assessed Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory parent and child versions questionnaire at sixth months after surgery.