Suspected Appendicitis Care Guideline Inclusion Criteria: patients > 2 years old with acute abdominal pain Exclusion Criteria: history of trauma, previous Recommendations/ Postoperative Considerations Management – p. 2 abdominal surgery Non-operative • Appendicitis is the most Management – p. 3 Assessment common atraumatic surgical History: Inquire specifically about onset & intensity of condition in children who symptoms, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, present with abdominal pain migration of pain • Most common signs/symptoms Clinical examination: Guarding/rigidity, localized in young children are tenderness, presence of rebound, observe walking, note periumbilical pain with migration fever to RLQ, anorexia, nausea/ emesis, guarding, cough/ percussion tenderness • Laboratory findings commonly Interventions include, leukocytosis, bandemia, • CBC with differential, CRP, UA, HCG if > 10yrs and and elevated CRP. female • Evidence supports the use of • NPO narcotic analgesics in children • IV fluids/bolus for evidence of hypovolemia with abdominal pain • Morphine IV PRN pain – refer to order set for • Consult ID if patient has beta weight based dosing lactam allergy. If history, exam History, exam, not consistent Non-surgical labs consistent with If U/S Surgical with appendicitis appendicitis – proceed to Positive diagnosis or appendix u/s Admit appendix ultrasound negative If U/S equivocal or morbidly obese, Negative Positive proceed to CT scan with oral/IV contrast Equivocal Prep for OR • NPO Admit to Pediatrics • IV 20 cc/kg NS bolus (if clinically indicated) with Surgical • D5½ NS w/ 20 mEq/L KCL (rate Consult dependent on weight) • Cefoxitin 40 mg/kg IV (max dose 2000mg) OR • For strong suspicion of perforation, give ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg IV or 2000 mg IV Serial exams, temperature curve, q24h > 40 kg AND metronidazole 30 mg/ repeat CBC, CRP kg IV or 1500 mg IV q24h > 50 kg *Refer to order set for weight based dosing Transport to Pre-Op or Surgical Unit dependent on OR time Page 1 of 4 Approved Evidence Based Medicine Committee Reassess the appropriateness of Care Guidelines as condition changes and 24 hrs 12-16-09 after admission. This guideline is a tool to aid clinical decision making. It is not a © 2021 Children’s Hospital of Orange County Revised 3-28-13; 7-19-13 antibiotic dose change; standard of care. The physician should deviate from the guideline when clinical 3-15-17; 9-15-2021 judgment so indicates. Appendectomy (Post-operative) Care Guideline Inclusion Criteria: Postoperative laparoscopic or open appendectomy patients, Interval/delayed appendectomy for perforated appendicitis Exclusion criteria: Incidental appendectomy Recommendations/Considerations • Central line care should be performed Postoperative – All Patients per CHOC Policy Manager (see Patient • Vital signs q 1 hr x 2, then q 4 hrs, strict I/O Care Policy F832) • OOB/ambulate QID; begin today • Pain Assessment and Management • IVFs-D5NS + KCL 20 mEq/L (see Patient Care Policy F918) • Incentive spirometry q 1 hr x 24 hrs, then q 6 hrs while awake • Consider ID consult for complicated • Medications – Refer to order set(s) for weight based dosing: cultures and beta lactam allergy - Morphine IV PRN pain - Ketorolac IV PRN pain/fever - Acetaminophen PO/IV PRN pain/fever - Ondansetron PRN nausea/vomiting Uncomplicated Appendicitis (acute Complicated Appendicitis (perforated or inflammatory or suppurative) or gangrenous) Normal Appendix Patient/Family Education • CVAD and/or drain care, if going home • Ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg IV q24h or 2000 mg IV q24 hr with PICC and drain – HELPS Class >40 kg • Appendicitis/Appendectomy Handout AND • Over-the-counter Pain Medication for • Metronidazole 30 mg/kg IV q24h or 1500 mg IV q24h Home Handout Same Day Overnight > 50 kg • Over-the-counter Constipation DC Protocol Protocol • Consider Zosyn for severe infection Medication for Home Handout *Refer to order set(s) for weight based dosing. • If NGT - to low intermittent suction: document amount & color of output • If JP drain - to bulb suction: document amount & color of output • Clear liquid diet when awake, then regular diet as tolerated • May not require postoperative • With return of bowel function (and removal of NG antibiotics, however, if ordered, tube), ok to start clears and advance as tolerated/ Discharge Criteria administer x 2 doses ordered to goal of regular diet • Afebrile x 48 hours • Saline lock IV when taking • Ambulating/baseline activity adequate fluids • Pain controlled with oral medications • Tolerating regular diet • Abdominal exam reassuring • Stooling or passing gas • Family comfortable with DC POD 2-5 POD 5-7 • If postoperative intra abdominal Same Day POD 1 • Discharge if criteria met • If hasn’t met DC criteria/not abscess: Discharge Discharge • Home with oral antibiotics for improving obtain CBC, CRP. • CBC and CRP improving Criteria met Criteria met total IV+PO = 7 days antibiotics • Consider CT scan abdomen/ • Home health arranged for PICC • Augmentin 45mg/kg divided pelvis w/oral and IV contrast and drain if indicated. BID or to assess for postoperative • Cipro/Flagyl based on cultures intra-abdominal abscess on PO 30mg/kg per day divided POD 7 BID; PO 30mg/kg per day divided TID Discharge home without oral antibiotics + intra-abdominal abscess • If drainable abscess → percutaneous drainage & Tailor antibiotic DC with antibiotics for culture of abscess by interventional radiologist and coverage per total = 14 days from consider concomitant PICC placement in IR. culture results/ drainage or based on • ID Consult clinically for home ID recommendation • If no drainable abscess consider PICC placement administration with PICC team Page 2 of 4 Approved by Evidence Based Medicine Committee Reassess the appropriateness of Care Guidelines as condition changes and 24 hrs after admission. This 12-16-09, revised 3-28-13; 3-15-17; 9-15-2021 guideline is a tool to aid clinical decision making. It is not a standard of care. The physician should deviate from © 2021 Children’s Hospital of Orange County the guideline when clinical judgment so indicates. Previous version 11-05 Non-Operative Management of Perforated Appendicitis Care Guideline Inclusion Criteria: patients > 2 years old with: • Symptoms > 5 days • CT confirmed appendicitis with significant Recommendations/ inflammation +/- abscess Considerations • There are no randomized trials Interventions comparing different antibiotic • If drainable abscess on CT scan - percutaneous drainage and regimens for the nonoperative culture of abscess by Interventional Radiology treatment of perforated appendicitis • Consider PICC line placement if no drainable abscess in children. The Surgical Infection • IV D5½ NS + KCL 20 mEq/L Society recommends either multi- • After intervention (IR drainage +/- PICC), assess readiness for drug therapy or monotherapy as diet long as adequate Gram-negative • *Refer to order set(s) for weight based dosing: and anaerobic coverage is o Morphine IV PRN pain provided. o Ketorolac IV PRN pain/fever – hold until after IR drainage • Consult ID if patient has beta o Acetaminophen PO/IV PRN pain/fever lactam allergy. o Zofran IV PRN nausea • Central line care should be performed per CHOC Policy Manager (see Patient Care Policy F832) Antibiotics • Pain Assessment and Management • Ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg IV q24h or 2000 mg IV q24h > 40 kg (see Patient Care Policy F918) AND • Metronidazole 30 mg/kg IV q24h or 1500 mg IV q24h > 50 kg • Consider Zosyn for severe infection or abscess that is not drainable. *Refer to order set for weight based dosing Parent/Patient Education • Adjust antibiotics based on cultures. See continued • CVAD care – HELPS Class considerations below. • Drain Care Handout • Return Precautions Handout • Non-Operative Appendicitis Handout Continued Considerations • CBC and CRP on hospital day 5 and/or prior to discharge Discharge Criteria • Consider follow up imaging hospital day 7 if not meeting d/c • Afebrile x 48 hours criteria • Tolerating regular diet • If uncontrolled sepsis or bowel obstruction develops, consider • CRP and WBC trending down proceeding to appendectomy • Ambulating – baseline activity • If a drain was placed, assess for removal prior to discharge • Pain well controlled with oral meds • If d/c home with IV abx with PICC, change antibiotics to single • Stooling or passing gas agent home regimen before discharge, if cultures allow. Give a • Arrange Home Care for PICC with: minimum of one dose inpatient. RN visits, meds, supplies, labs and/ • Consider transition to oral antibiotics, based on culture if patient or drain care, if needed had drainable abscess. If not drainable abscess, consider ID consult. Page 3 of 4 Approved by Evidenced Based Medicine Committee Reassess the appropriateness of Care Guidelines as condition changes and 24 hrs after 12-16-09 admission. This guideline is a tool to aid clinical decision making. It is not a standard of care. © 2021 Children’s Hospital of Orange County Revised 3-28-13; 3-15-17; 9-15-2021 The physician should deviate from the guideline when clinical judgment so indicates. References Appendicitis Care Guideline Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (2021). Inpatient Clinical Pathway for Evaluation/Treatment of Children with Appendicitis. Retrieved from https://www.chop.edu/clinical-pathway/appendicitis-inpatient-care- clinical-pathway Daskalakis, K., Juhlin, C., & Påhlman, L. (2014). The use of pre- or postoperative antibiotics in surgery for appendicitis: a systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Surgery: