Active clinical trials for "Appendicitis"

Laparoscopic (key-hole) appendicectomy is a minimally invasive procedure when compared to open large bowel resection, but is still associated with a significant amount of pain and discomfort. Analgesia is commonly provided by a multi-modal technique involving varying combinations of paracetamol, Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), regional analgesia and oral or parenteral opioids. Opioids are associated with an increased incidence of nausea, vomiting and sedation which can complicate post-operative recovery. Different techniques of intraoperative infiltration of local anaesthetic to control postoperative pain are also being used. Their perceived benefits are thought to relate to reduced opioid consumption and therefore reduced opioid side effects. Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block is a technique which numbs the nerves carrying pain sensation from the abdominal wall and provides effective and safe analgesia with minimal systemic side effects. Their perceived benefits are thought to relate to reduced opioid consumption and therefore reduced opioid side effects. The investigators believe ultrasound guided TAP blocks will reduce pain and morphine consumption with a resultant improved patient satisfaction, a reduction in post-operative nausea and vomiting and earlier hospital discharge. The key research question the investigators are trying to answer is whether TAP block provide better pain relief than local anaesthetic infiltration of the laparoscopic port sites. Both techniques are currently being used in the investigator's hospital.

For elective abdominal surgery preoperative administration of 8 mg dexamethasone reduces the incidents of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Whether preoperative administration of 8 mg dexamethasone reduces PONV for patients having acute abdominal surgery has not been established. The investigators wish to see if preoperative administration of 8 mg dexamethasone minimum 30 minutes prior to a diagnostic laparoscopy for suspected appendicitis will reduce the incidents of PONV by 50%. Of secondary interest the investigators want to see if 8 mg dexamethasone preoperative can reduce pain, reduce opioid consumption, postoperative fatigue, duration of time until resumption of work and resumption of normal daily activities, and enhanced the quality of recovery.

Diagnosing acute appendicitis in children is still a challenge even for experienced clinicians. Failure to recognize this acute condition can result in perforation, with consequent peritonitis, or misdiagnosis can result in negative appendectomies. C-reactive protein in blood can be elavated in children with acute appendicitis. The aim of this research is to compare the diagnostic value of C-reactive protein from the blood and saliva of children with acute appendicitis and to prove wheter the analysis of biomarker from saliva as a minimally invasive procedure can be sufficient for diagnosis.

To evaluate Diagnostic accuracy of Non-contrast CT in correlation with ultrasound in diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults

Laparoscopic appendectomy is a very common intervention in pediatric surgery. To improve outcomes, some teams have developed the use of single-site laparoscopic appendectomy (SILAP). Nevertheless, there is no consensus yet and no published data on the better perioperative analgesia, and different modalities including general intravenous analgesia, locoregional pre-operative analgesia and local analgesia can be used.

Hypothesis/Study question (brief introduction of the question studied; about 5 lines) Appendicitis is the most common acute surgical admission to the pediatric surgery service at the MCH. The need for surgery can provoke anxieties for patients. Patient education materials are meant to improve knowledge, set expectations, and improve the overall hospital experience for patients and their families, and are already being widely implemented for elective surgeries in the context of ERAS pathways. This study aims to develop an effective patient and family education tool, with the goal of improving patient education and satisfaction with care in the emergency surgery setting. Study objectives Utilize evidence-based methods to evaluate the success of implementation of a patient and family-centered education tool for appendicitis. Develop and validate a pre- and post- education patient satisfaction and experience survey in the realm of pediatric surgery. Inform the development of the education tool and survey through multidisciplinary and patient/family input. Implement a patient/family-centered education tool in an emergency surgical setting.

The objective of this study is to evaluate two standard post-operative pain regimens routinely used after laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. The investigators hypothesize that the use of intravenous (IV) acetaminophen in addition to IV ketorolac with narcotic pain pump will decrease time to transition off patient/nurse controlled analgesia (PCA) to oral pain medications.

The literature has reported that fast track surgery can be safely applied to children undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis. There is no current evidence regarding the application of same day discharge protocol in children with intra-operative findings of suppurative appendicitis. The current standard of care for patients who present with intra-operative findings of suppurative appendicitis includes post-operative admission and treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Patients are discharged home once they have met the following discharge criteria: temperature less than 38.5 degrees Celsius, pain control with oral pain medication, and tolerating a liquid diet. Given the evidence in the literature that has shown that same day discharge of patients with acute appendicitis is safe and effective, we propose that fast track surgery protocol can be safely applied to patients with intraoperative findings of suppurative appendicitis. We hypothesize that this will result in a decreased postoperative length of stay, without an increase in 30-day complication rate.

QL block has been recently described for chronic pain following abdominal hernia repair, and for postoperative analgesia following abdominal surgery as it leads to complete pain relief in the dermatomal area from (T6 - L1). Theoretically, QL blocks might give better and longer-lasting analgesia compared to the US-guided anterior TAP block due to a spread to the thoracic paravertebral space and sympathetic nerves in the thoracolumbar fascia, so visceral afferent pathways to the medulla can be blocked.

Intravenous lidocaine - a potent local anesthetic with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties has been shown to be an effective adjunct that reduces intra and postoperative opioid consumption and facilitates pain management in adults. In children population promising but limited evidence is available. The study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of continuous intravenous infusion of lidocaine to reduce opioid consumption during and after laparoscopic appendectomy in children.