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Using administrative data from the Pediatric Health Information System, investigators retrospectively assessed the frequency and outcomes of nonoperative management of uncomplicated appendicitis in children <19 years of age presenting to 47 participating U.S. pediatric hospitals from 2010 to 2016.
During this period, 99,001 children (median age, 11 years) were diagnosed with appendicitis. Of 65,712 (66%) children with nonperforated appendicitis, 4190 (6%) were managed nonoperatively. The rate of nonoperative management increased 20% over the study period (from roughly 3% to 23%). Overall, the perforation rate among children treated nonoperatively was 14%. During the 12-month follow-up period, patients managed nonoperatively, compared with th…