Four hospitals are to take part in a randomised trial of antibiotics as an alternative to appendicectomy for child patients, it has been announced.
The trial has been established after a review of evidence from the last decade suggested that antibiotic treatment of appendicitis could be as effective as surgery.
It will involve Southampton Children’s Hospital, St George’s in Tooting, Alder Hey in Liverpool and Great Ormond Street in London.
The first year of the trial will be a feasibility study, examining the willingness of families to participate as well as initial evidence of the effectiveness of treatments.
Some £483,000 has been allocated to the project from the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme.
Paediatric surgeon Nigel Hall, from Southampton, published the findings of his review in Pediatrics.
He found ten studies involving some 413 children over the last ten years. Researchers reported no adverse events from attempting to treat the condition with antibiotics – but patients suffered a 14% rate of recurrent disease.
Mr Hall said: "Our review shows that antibiotics could be an alternative treatment method for children.
"When we compared the adult literature to the data in our review it suggested that antibiotic treatment of acute appendicitis is at least as effective in children as in adults. This now needs to be explored more widely."
Efficacy and Safety of Non-Operative Treatment for Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis: A Meta Analysis Pediatrics 17 February 2017
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