A postoperative complication common in children after an appendectomy is surgical site infection (SSI). This complication not only extends hospital stays but also necessitates extra surgery and antibiotic use. The incidence of SSI after appendectomies in previous studies varies widely from 1.2% to 20%.
However, studies exploring this issue in Ethiopia are scarce, thus underscoring the relevance of our study that primarily seeks to spotlight the SSI prevalence among children in the Amhara region, Ethiopia, after an appendectomy. During this cross-sectional exploration, data from 423 participating children were gathered using simple random sampling paired with an extraction tool. The data collected was systematically coded, cleansed and analyzed using Epi Data version 4.6 and STATA version 14.0.
In this study, the overall SSI prevalence was pegged at 9.11%. Crucial predictors of SSIs included symptoms of fever, usage of preoperative antibiotics and appendectomy followed by drainage. Compared to national targets, the SSI prevalence appears markedly high. As such, our study highlights the significance of rigorous post-operative follow-ups, particularly among children presenting with fever, tend to retain post-operative drainage, or those using preoperative antibiotics.
In addition to SSIs, appendectomy complications include intra-abdominal abscess and intestinal obstruction, among others. Acute appendicitis (AA), the inflammation of the appendix, is one of the most common surgical emergencies in children. Often, the delay in diagnosing AA leads to increased rates of complications, reinforcing the crucial role of an accurate and quick diagnosis in determining improved patient outcomes. Appendectomy is the definitive treatment solution for appendicitis, and the choice of surgical strategy depends on the appendicitis grade.
While numerous strategies to reduce SSI rates (including the use of razors, decolonization, etc.) are recommended by global organizations, the reduction measures supported by randomized trials are limited. Only organized tracking and evaluation of SSIs can spotlight areas where surgical technique, postoperative care and infection control procedures require improvements. The potential reduce healthcare costs by minimizing SSIs, alongside the benefits of supporting the development of uniform policies and procedures for appendectomy surgeries, underline the importance of more extensive SSI research.