Investigating the shared genetic basis and causal relationships between mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue inflammation and psychiatric disorders.

Background: Chronic and acute inflammation of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue have been positively linked to the development of psychiatric disorders in observational studies. However, it remains unclear whether this association is causal. In the present study, we investigated this association, using as proxies genetically predicted tonsillectomy, appendectomy and appendicitis on psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar depression (BD) and anxiety (ANX) via a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: Genetic association summary statistics for tonsillectomy, appendectomy and appendicitis were sourced from FinnGen Consortium, comprising data from 342,000 participants. Genetic correlations between all exposures and outcome were calculated with Linkage Disequilibrium Score (LDSC) Regression analysis. MR estimates were then calculated to assess their impact on the risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Sensitivity analysis was employed to test for any directional pleiotropy. Results: Our results suggest that there is no direct causal association between tonsillectomy, appendectomy or appendicitis with a heightened risk for development of psychiatric disorders. The robustness of the results of the main MR analysis was further confirmed with additional sensitivity analyses. However, a moderate inverse genetic correlation was observed between tonsillectomy and MDD traits (rg=-0.39, p-value (P)=7.5x10-5). Conclusion: Our findings provide, for the first time, evidence that there is no causal association between tonsillectomy or appendectomy on subsequent vulnerability of developing psychiatric disorders. Future studies using larger sample size GWAS should focus on unraveling the confounding factors and mediators to investigate this relationship further.

Pathological Assessment of the Appendix in Appendectomies Performed in Children.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is known as the most common diagnosis of acute abdomen leading to surgery. Therefore, timely diagnosis is of special importance. This study was conducted with the aim of pathological assessment of the appendix in appendectomies performed in children to determine the rate of negative appendectomies and the predictors of negative appendectomy and to evaluate the paraclinical tools used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. All children who underwent appendectomy at Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia from March 2021 to March 2022 were examined. The required data including demographic, paraclinical, and final pathology characteristics were collected and recorded. The investigated cases were classified into positive and negative appendectomy categories for comparison. RESULTS: Among 234 pathology samples of the appendix, 22 cases were related to accidental appendectomy. In addition, 11.3% of cases were negative appendectomy and 88.7% were positive appendectomy. The age range of 8 to 14 years and male gender were associated with a lower negative appendectomy rate (both P<0.001). Inflammatory (49.5%) and gangrenous appendicitis (30.2%) were the most commonly reported histopathologies. Sonography had a sensitivity of 84%, a specificity of 79%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 83%. CONCLUSION: A relatively significant number of accidental and negative appendectomies are performed. More careful investigation and the use of expectant and medical treatment instead of surgery, especially in females and young children, can be effective in improving diagnostic accuracy and preventing negative appendectomies.

How does circadian rhythm affect postoperative pain after pediatric acute appendicitis surgery?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between postoperative pain and circadian rhythm after pediatric acute appendicitis surgery. METHODS: Two hundred patients, aged 6-18 years, undergoing acute appendicitis surgery were included in this prospective observational study. The patients were divided into four groups according to the time they underwent surgery: the night group, 01:01-07:00; morning group, 07:01-13:00; afternoon group, 13:01-19:00; and evening group, 19:01-01:00. Intraoperative and postoperative vital signs, postoperative 24-h Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (FACEs) scores, and the amount of analgesic required were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients were analyzed in the study. There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic characteristics of the patient groups. Additionally, no differences were observed in intraoperative and postoperative vital signs among the four groups. However, patients in the night group had significantly higher FACEs values than those in the other groups at each time point (1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th h) up to 12 h (P = 0.007, P = 0.023, P = 0.048, and P = 0.003, respectively). The amount of analgesic required in the night group was statistically higher than in the other groups until 12 h (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, P = 0.002, and P = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A relationship was found between acute appendicitis operations performed at night (01:01 to 07:00) under general anesthesia and circadian rhythm in children. We believe that considering circadian time in the relief of postoperative pain would be beneficial.

Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Surgeries as a Possible Risk for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders that are caused by genetic susceptibility and environmental factors and affects a significant portion of the global population. The gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is known to play a crucial role in immune modulation and maintaining gut microbiota balance. Dysbiosis in the latter has a known link to IBD. Therefore, the increasing prevalence of adenoidectomy in children should be explored for its potential association with IBD. The objective of this paper was to assess the association between adenoid tissue removal and the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: We conducted a pooled meta-analysis to evaluate the extended clinical outcomes in patients who underwent appendicectomy and tonsillectomy compared to those who did not. Our approach involved systematically searching the PubMed database for relevant observational studies written in English. We followed the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines to collect data from various time periods, and to address the diversity in study results; we employed a random-effects analysis that considered heterogeneity. For outcomes, odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: Seven studies, out of a total of 114,537, met our inclusion criteria. Our meta-analysis revealed a significant association between appendicectomy and CD (OR: 1.57; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01 - 2.43; heterogeneity I2 = 93%). Similarly, we found a significant association between tonsillectomy and CD (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 0.96 - 3.89; I2 = 62%). However, no significant association was observed between appendicectomy and UC (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.24 - 1.47; I2 = 96%), while a modest association was found between tonsillectomy and UC (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.18 - 1.30; I2 = 0%). Conclusions: In summary, we found that the trend of appendicectomy is linked to higher odds of CD, and tonsillectomy is more likely associated with increased odds for both CD and UC, with a risk of bias present.

A case report of heterotopic ossifications in abdominal incision scar.

INTRODUCTION: Heterotopic ossification (HO) develops when bone formation appears in soft tissues, usually after an injury or major surgery. Timely and accurately diagnosing of this rare event is essential due to the possibility of misdiagnosis as a maintained foreign body, infection, incisional neoplastic recurrence, and metastatic or primary neoplasms. CASE PRESENTATION: In this study, we present a 57-year-old man who was operated for peritonitis due to perforated appendicitis, and an asymptomatic HO was accidentally found on an incisional line of previous open prostatectomy about 5 years earlier due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. A bone density lesion was seen in the fascia and on the incisional scar of previous surgery. DISCUSSION: HO rarely occurs within an abdominal incision due to surgery. It is reported only within vertical midline incisions and mainly within the first year after the operation. Imaging confirms the diagnosis of HO in previous abdominal surgery scars, which reveals dense vertical calcification along the previous incisional scar. In the case of HO, the exclusive effective management is the entire surgical excision with primary closure, and NSAIDs are the preventive choices. CONCLUSION: HO should be considered in patients presenting with discomfort or palpable mass or even asymptomatic patients with previous abdominal surgeries besides considering relative history such as surgical complications or neoplasms.

Clinical Effectiveness of Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block versus Local Anesthesia Wound Infiltration for Postoperative Pain Relief After Laparoscopic Appendicectomy in Children: A Study Protocol for a Multicenter Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Phase III Trial.

Purpose: Postoperative pain relief after laparoscopic appendicectomy is a key determinant of early rehabilitation in children. Recent guidelines recommend performing either a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block or local anesthesia (LA) wound infiltration as part of multimodal postoperative analgesia after appendectomy. To date, the clinical effectiveness of TAP block versus LA wound infiltration has never been compared. The hypothesis of this study is that the TAP block may provide a greater opioid-sparing effect after laparoscopic appendicectomy in children than LA wound infiltration. Study Design and Methods: We designed a multicenter double-blind randomized controlled phase III trial and aim to include 110 children who undergo laparoscopic appendicectomy. Children are randomized to receive either TAP block (TAP group) or LA wound infiltration (infiltration group). Multimodal analgesia is standardized in the two groups using the same protocol, which includes the stepwise prescription of paracetamol, phloroglucinol, ketoprofene, and nalbuphine according to the hetero-evaluation of pain performed by the nurses who were blinded to the treatment allocated using the validated FLACC scale. The primary outcome is the total dose of nalbuphine administered within 24 hours after surgery. Discussion: No study has specifically compared the clinical effectiveness of TAP block versus LA wound infiltration for postoperative pain relief after laparoscopic appendectomy in children. This paper describes the protocol for a randomized trial that addresses this issue. The results of this trial will be useful for editing guidelines with a higher level of evidence on this topic.

Incidental diagnosis of primary appendiceal signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma after appendectomy for acute appendicitis: a case report.

Introduction: Appendiceal signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma (ASCA) is rare and more aggressive in malignant appendiceal neoplasms. The presentation can be appendicitis, which is lack of specific symptom and makes early diagnosis difficult. There is no effective surveillance. Prognosis largely relies on timely detection. We report a case of ASCA incidentally diagnosed through pathological examination after appendectomy for appendicitis. Case presentation: The patient presented to our department with a progressive right lower quadrant abdominal pain lasting for 3 days. Physical examination revealed rigidity, tenderness, and rebound tenderness on the right lower quadrant. A computed tomography scan showed a thickened, inflamed appendix with peri-appendiceal fat stranding without noticeable appendiceal mass at initial evaluation. The diagnosis was considered acute appendicitis, and an appendectomy was performed. The appendix was inflamed, gangrenous and perforated, and no mass was found during the surgery. Surgical specimen was sent for physiological examination, which incidentally detected signet-ring cell in H&E staining. And immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of ASCA with small amount of neuroendocrine neoplasms. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of ASCA can incidentally be made on pathological specimen following appendectomy for appendicitis. A routine pathological examination should be emphasized, and appendectomy may not be the endpoint of the treatment. Hemicolectomy and adjuvant therapy might ensue upon the diagnosis of appendiceal neoplasm. The poor prognosis of ASCA makes a timely diagnosis significant. Basic research is promising to unravel the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis, finding typical tumor markers for screening and novel effective therapies for advanced cases.

Appendectomy and the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Korean Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: The vermiform appendix is considered a potential reservoir for the abnormal α-synuclein aggregate in Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous epidemiologic evidence on the association between appendectomy and PD risk remains inconclusive, especially outside the Western world. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between appendectomy and PD risk in Korea. METHODS: Among 703,831 eligible adult subjects in the National Health Insurance Service sample cohort, we identified 16,122 patients who underwent appendectomy. The rest formed the control group. PD risk was assessed using time-dependent Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: The appendectomy group did not have altered risk of PD compared with the control group in either unadjusted [hazard ratio (HR) 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-1.80, P = 0.08] or adjusted model (HR 1.42, CI 0.88-2.30, P = 0.15). No further statistical difference appeared when stratified by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Appendectomy is not associated with altered risk of PD in the Korean population.

SAGES guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is an extremely common disease with a variety of medical and surgical treatment approaches. A multidisciplinary expert panel was convened to develop evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians and patients in decisions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted from 2010 to 2022 to answer 8 key questions relating to the diagnosis of appendicitis, operative or nonoperative management, and specific technical and post-operative issues for appendectomy. The results of this systematic review were then presented to a panel of adult and pediatric surgeons. Evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the GRADE methodology by subject experts. RESULTS: Conditional recommendations were made in favor of uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis being managed operatively, either delayed (>12h) or immediate operation (<12h), either suction and lavage or suction alone, no routine drain placement, treatment with short-term antibiotics postoperatively for complicated appendicitis, and complicated appendicitis previously treated nonoperatively undergoing interval appendectomy. A conditional recommendation signals that the benefits of adhering to a recommendation probably outweigh the harms although it does also indicate uncertainty. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations should provide guidance with regard to current controversies in appendicitis. The panel also highlighted future research opportunities where the evidence base can be strengthened.

Is non-operative treatment of acute appendicitis possible: A narrative review.

Introduction: Acute appendicitis (AA) represents the most frequent surgical emergency. Perforation was long considered the ultimate outcome of AA, prompting appendectomy; which remains the standard treatment. New data have clarified the role of the appendix, justifying conservative treatment. This narrative review aims to summarize the evidence regarding the non-operative treatment (NOT) of AA in adults. Methods: The literature search was performed via the PubMed Medline database. Our criteria-based selection resulted in a total of 48 articles for review. Results: Recent trials and meta-analyses have assessed NOT, which support primary antibiotic treatment of uncomplicated AA. Although it has a significant recurrence and failure rate, NOT does not appear to increase the risk of appendicular perforation. Moreover, NOT compared with appendectomy, seems to be associated with less morbidity, lower cost of care and preserved quality of life. Conclusion: First-line NOT seems to be a reasonable approach for the treatment of uncomplicated CT-confirmed AA. Careful patient screening would definitely enhance the success rate.

Income-Based Disparities in Outcomes Following Pediatric Appendectomy: A National Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Appendectomy remains a common pediatric surgical procedure with an estimated 80,000 operations performed each year. While prior work has reported the existence of racial disparities in postoperative outcomes, we sought to characterize potential income-based inequalities using a national cohort. METHODS: All non-elective pediatric (<18 years) hospitalizations for appendectomy were tabulated in the 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample. Only those in the highest (HI) and lowest income (LI) quartiles were considered for analysis. Multivariable regression models were developed to assess the independent association of income and postoperative major adverse events (MAE). RESULTS: Of an estimated 87,830 patients, 36,845 (42.0%) were HI and 50,985 (58.0%) were LI. On average, LI patients were younger (11 [7-14] vs 12 [8-15] years, P < .001), more frequently insured by Medicaid (70.7 vs 27.3%, P < .05), and more commonly of Hispanic ethnicity (50.8 vs 23.4%, P < .001). Following risk adjustment, the LI cohort was associated with greater odds of MAE (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.30 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.64). Specifically, low-income status was linked with increased odds of infectious (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.12-2.42) and respiratory (AOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.06-2.62) complications. Further, LI was associated with a $1670 decrement in costs ([2220-$1120]) and a +.32-day increase in duration of stay (95% CI [.21-.44]). CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients of the lowest income quartile faced increased risk of major adverse events following appendectomy compared to those of highest income. Novel risk stratification methods and standardized care pathways are needed to ameliorate socioeconomic disparities in postoperative outcomes.

Removal of Multiple Ingested Magnets Through Laparoscopic Appendectomy in an Adolescent: A Report of Two Cases.

Magnet ingestion can lead to serious health issues, including inflammation, gastrointestinal tract perforation, and even life-threatening complications. Despite legislative actions and numerous reports on the dangers of magnet ingestion in children, it remains a significant public health concern. Physicians must remain vigilant in cases of acute abdomen with ambiguous symptoms or unclear history in young patients. Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention in case of multiple magnet swallowing are crucial to prevent complications. We present two cases of successful removal of ingested magnetic spheres through laparoscopic appendectomy in adolescents. This study aimed to highlight the technical aspects of the procedure to share the benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the management of magnetic foreign bodies (FBs) located in the appendix or cecum.

Implementation of artificial intelligence-based computer vision model in laparoscopic appendectomy: validation, reliability, and clinical correlation.

BACKGROUND: Application of artificial intelligence (AI) in general surgery is evolving. Real-world implementation of an AI-based computer-vision model in laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is presented. We aimed to evaluate (1) its accuracy in complexity grading and safety adherence, (2) clinical correlation to outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective single-center study of 499 consecutive LA videos, captured and analyzed by 'Surgical Intelligence Platform,' Theator Inc. (9/2020-5/2022). Two expert surgeons viewed all videos and manually graded complexity and safety adherence. Automated annotations were compared to surgeons' assessments. Inter-surgeons' agreements were measured. Since 7/2021 videos were linked to patients' admission numbers. Data retrieval from medical records was performed (n = 365). Outcomes were compared between high and low complexity grades. RESULTS: Low and high complexity grades comprised 74.8 and 25.2% of 499 videos. Surgeons' agreements were high (76.9-94.4%, kappa 0.77/0.91; p < 0.001) for all annotated complexity grades. Surgeons' agreements were also high (96.0-99.8%, kappa 0.78/0.87; p < 0.001) for full safety adherence, whereas agreement was moderate in partial safety adherence and none (32.8-58.8%). Inter-surgeons' agreements were high for complexity grading (kappa 0.86, p < 0.001) and safety adherence (kappa 0.88, p < 0.001). Comparing high to low grade complexity, preoperative clinical features were similar, except larger appendix diameter on imaging (13.4 ± 4.4 vs. 10.5 ± 3.0 mm, p < 0.001). Intraoperative outcomes were significantly higher (p < 0.001), including time to achieve critical view of safety (29.6, IQR 19.1-41.6 vs. 13.7, IQR 8.5-21.1 min), operative duration (45.3, IQR 37.7-65.2 vs. 25.0, IQR 18.3-32.7 min), and intraoperative events (39.4% vs. 5.9%). Postoperative outcomes (7.4% vs. 9.2%) including surgical complications, mortality, and readmissions were comparable (p = 0.6), except length of stay (4, IQR 2-5.5 vs. 1, IQR 1-2 days; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The model accurately assesses complexity grading and full safety achievement. It can serve to predict operative time and intraoperative course, whereas no clinical correlation was found regarding postoperative outcomes. Further studies are needed.

Appendiceal Diverticulitis Mimics Cecal Diverticulitis Diagnosed Preoperatively.

Appendiceal diverticulitis is an uncommon condition that clinically resembles acute appendicitis. However, it is an incidental finding in histopathological studies and is rarely diagnosed preoperatively by imaging studies. In this article, we present the clinical and imaging findings of a male patient presenting with right upper quadrant pain with a preoperative imaging diagnosis of appendiceal diverticulitis. He underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and confirmed the diagnosis of appendiceal diverticulitis. This is a rare preoperative diagnosis. The management is often like typical appendicitis which is appendectomy. It is important to differentiate it from diverticulitis of the small intestine or colon because these diseases usually require only conservative treatment.

Is Appendectomy During Late Stages of Pregnancy Associated with an Increased Cesarean Delivery Rate? - a Retrospective Analysis of One Center During 10 Years.

Introduction: About one in 500 pregnant women requires a surgical intervention that is not pregnancy-related. One of the most common surgical interventions during pregnancy is appendectomy. The primary aim of this study was to assess surgical access of appendectomy during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome. Secondary outcomes were clinical symptoms and diagnostics as well as histopathological analysis. Methods and Material: This is a single-center retrospective data analysis conducted at a tertiary perinatal center. A digital search of the hospital record archive was conducted focusing on pregnant women beyond 24 0/7 weeks of pregnancy encoding appendectomy. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: Between January 2013 and January 2023, a total of 20 appendectomies were performed during pregnancy with gestational age beyond 24 0/7 weeks of pregnancy. All of them were performed as lower midline laparotomy. The rate of appendix perforation was 3/20 (15.0%). 19/20 patients (95.0%) delivered via cesarean. In 7/20 patients (35.0%) appendectomy was performed during cesarean delivery due to incidental finding of irritated or abnormal vermiform appendix. In the pathological work-up, only 2/7 (28.6%) of these subjects had inflammation. Conclusion: In this small monocentric cohort, only open appendectomies were performed. Our data indicate that it is safe to perform open appendectomy during pregnancy if necessary. In this small patient group, there was an increase in simultaneous cesarean deliveries.

Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm Causing Equivocal Appendicitis: A Case Report.

Appendicitis is one of the most common diagnoses that general surgeons encounter in practice. An exceedingly rare cause of this disease is neoplasm. We report the case of a 24-year-old female who presented with non-specific right lower quadrant abdominal pain and equivocal findings of appendicitis and pelvic congestion syndrome on CT imaging. After an extensive work-up, the patient underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy with an appendectomy. The appendix appeared grossly normal; however, on a pathologic review of the specimen, a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) was found. This case is unique in that it demonstrates exclusive management of LAMN laparoscopically. It reinforces the need to approach non-specific abdominal pain from a multidisciplinary perspective and to utilize laparoscopy as a diagnostic/therapeutic modality when other, less invasive, modalities fail to diagnose a patient's pain.

Is there a link between appendicitis and the risk of diverticular disease?: a large German cohort study.

PURPOSE: Appendicitis, characterized by inflammation of the vermiform appendix, is a common abdominal emergency necessitating appendectomy. Recent evidence suggests a potential link between appendicitis and subsequent diverticular disease, yet population-based studies investigating this association are limited. METHODS: Utilizing the Disease Analyzer database encompassing data from over 1000 primary care practices in Germany, we conducted a retrospective cohort study. We included 25,379 adults diagnosed with appendicitis and an equal number of matched controls without appendicitis. The incidence of diverticular disease over a 10-year follow-up period was compared between the two cohorts. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the association between appendicitis and diverticular disease, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Our findings revealed a significant association between appendicitis and subsequent diverticular disease (HR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.57-1.97), with an increased risk observed across all age groups. Notably, this association was stronger in men (HR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.68-2.37) than in women (HR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.36-1.84). The cumulative 10-year incidence of diverticular disease was higher in patients with appendicitis (6.5%) compared to those without (3.6%). Additionally, we observed a clear age-dependent increase in the incidence of diverticular disease. CONCLUSION: This large-scale population-based study provides valuable insights into the interaction between appendicitis and diverticular disease. The study underscores the need for further research elucidating the underlying mechanisms linking appendicitis to diverticular disease. Probiotics emerge as a potential therapeutic avenue warranting exploration in the management of both conditions. These findings have important implications for clinical practice, highlighting the importance of considering appendicitis as a potential risk factor for diverticular disease, particularly in men. Further investigation is warranted to validate these findings and explore potential therapeutic interventions targeting the shared pathophysiological pathways underlying both conditions.

Ultrasound Assessment in Children With Suspected Appendicitis: Time to Revise Diagnostic Criteria: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Although ultrasound is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of children with suspected appendicitis, there is still much debate about the most accurate ultrasound findings. The purpose of this study was to define the best ultrasound signs that could ultimately improve the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for diagnosing pediatric acute appendicitis, and to differentiate between simple appendicitis and complicated appendicitis. Patients and Methods: After approval by our Institutional Review Board, a prospective study was carried out from January 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, in a pediatric emergency department. We included all patients aged under 14 years with suspected appendicitis and ultrasound-visualized appendix. Results: A total of 550 patients presented with suspected appendicitis during the study period. Of these children, 411 had an ultrasound-visualized appendix. Our patients' mean age was 9.4 years. The best positive predictive value of ultrasound was found for appendiceal diameter ≥7.5 mm. The combination of an appendiceal diameter <6 mm and the lack of peri-appendiceal free fluid on ultrasound rules out the diagnosis of appendicitis. The best diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, which was 92%, was achieved for appendix diameters ≥6.5 mm. The sonographic sign giving the best ultrasound accuracy for diagnosing complicated appendicitis was an appendix diameter ≥9 mm. Conclusions: In conclusion, our present study demonstrated that appendiceal diameter ≥6.5 mm is the gold standard for diagnosing appendicitis in pediatric patients. The combination of an appendiceal diameter <6 mm and the lack of peri-appendiceal free fluid on ultrasound would rule out appendicitis.

Combination of electrophysiological mapping, radiofrequency catheter ablation, and atrial appendectomy in a 5-year-old girl with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the left atrial appendage (LAA) is uncommon and the most difficult arrhythmia to eliminate. Therefore, we present the case of a 5-year-old girl with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) caused by AT originating from the LAA and successfully treated with RFCA associated to left atrial appendectomy. With resolution of AT, we observed a progressive improvement of LV function. The effectiveness and safety of this combination therapy were evaluated over a one-month follow-up period. CASE PRESENTATION: A 5 -year-old female was evaluated for three days of incessant cough and a syncopal episode. Surface echocardiography and 24-hour monitoring showed that the infant had persistent atrial tachycardia. Echocardiography revealed an enlarged tele diastolic diameter (46.1 mm) and malfunctioning (EF 28.53%) left ventricle. The location of the lesion at the apex of the LAA was further confirmed by electrophysiological study and RFCA. After RFCA, the infant's ECG monitor showed that sinus rhythm was maintained for up to 22 h. Subsequently, atrial tachycardia recurred and sinus rhythm disappeared. Finally, atrial appendectomy was performed and sinus rhythm returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: The heart function of the infant improved and sinus rhythm was maintained, further demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of combined treatment with RFCA and atrial appendectomy after electrophysiological localization of AT from LAA to TIC.