Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center study

Abstract To analyze the clinical characteristics and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers younger than 3 years of age. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the children under 3 years old diagnosed with appendicitis and treated at two centers between March 2018 and May...

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Main Authors: Deyu Li, Zhengquan Zhang, Jin Wan, Jian Zhao, Ge Wei, Wuji Pan, Ying Yan, Yu Zhang, Faling Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99293-1
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author Deyu Li
Zhengquan Zhang
Jin Wan
Jian Zhao
Ge Wei
Wuji Pan
Ying Yan
Yu Zhang
Faling Chen
author_facet Deyu Li
Zhengquan Zhang
Jin Wan
Jian Zhao
Ge Wei
Wuji Pan
Ying Yan
Yu Zhang
Faling Chen
author_sort Deyu Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract To analyze the clinical characteristics and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers younger than 3 years of age. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the children under 3 years old diagnosed with appendicitis and treated at two centers between March 2018 and May 2024. Based on pathological findings, patients were divided into perforated and non-perforated groups. Further classification was based on the presence or absence of post-appendectomy abscess, resulting in three groups: non-perforated, perforated with post-appendectomy abscess, and perforated without post-appendectomy abscess. Among 72 children with appendicitis, 45 were male (62.5%) and 27 were female (37.5%), with a median age of 31.0 (IQR, 27.0–34.0) months and an average weight of 13.7 ± 2.7 kg. Abdominal ultrasound had a positivity rate of 69.4% (50/72), and 22 patients underwent additional CT scans. All cases were treated with laparoscopic appendectomy, without conversions to open surgery. Perforated appendicitis was diagnosed in 58 cases (80.6%), and non-perforated appendicitis in 14 cases (19.4%). The median symptom duration (48.0 vs. 21.0 h; p < 0.01), CRP levels (70.5 vs. 22.0 mg/L; p < 0.05), and incidence of appendicoliths were significantly higher in the perforated group (p < 0.05). Post-appendectomy abscess was the most common complication, with appendicoliths and prolonged symptom duration being significant risk factors (p < 0.05). The perforated group with post-appendectomy abscess had a significantly longer median hospital stay than the non-perforated group (12.0 vs. 6.0 days; p < 0.01). ROC analysis identified CRP (AUC 0.69, cutoff 34.5 mg/L; p < 0.05) and symptom duration (AUC 0.74, cutoff 35 h; p < 0.01) as predictors of perforation. The high perforation rate of appendicitis in infants and toddlers is associated with prolonged symptoms, elevated CRP, and appendicoliths. Extended symptom duration and appendicoliths increase the risk of post-appendectomy abscesses.
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spelling doaj-art-cb08e4e80c0640d7b96e14ff3a2b0b4b2025-08-20T03:47:14ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-99293-1Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center studyDeyu Li0Zhengquan Zhang1Jin Wan2Jian Zhao3Ge Wei4Wuji Pan5Ying Yan6Yu Zhang7Faling Chen8Department of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou UniversityDepartment of General Surgery, Shanghai Children’s HospitalAbstract To analyze the clinical characteristics and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers younger than 3 years of age. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the children under 3 years old diagnosed with appendicitis and treated at two centers between March 2018 and May 2024. Based on pathological findings, patients were divided into perforated and non-perforated groups. Further classification was based on the presence or absence of post-appendectomy abscess, resulting in three groups: non-perforated, perforated with post-appendectomy abscess, and perforated without post-appendectomy abscess. Among 72 children with appendicitis, 45 were male (62.5%) and 27 were female (37.5%), with a median age of 31.0 (IQR, 27.0–34.0) months and an average weight of 13.7 ± 2.7 kg. Abdominal ultrasound had a positivity rate of 69.4% (50/72), and 22 patients underwent additional CT scans. All cases were treated with laparoscopic appendectomy, without conversions to open surgery. Perforated appendicitis was diagnosed in 58 cases (80.6%), and non-perforated appendicitis in 14 cases (19.4%). The median symptom duration (48.0 vs. 21.0 h; p < 0.01), CRP levels (70.5 vs. 22.0 mg/L; p < 0.05), and incidence of appendicoliths were significantly higher in the perforated group (p < 0.05). Post-appendectomy abscess was the most common complication, with appendicoliths and prolonged symptom duration being significant risk factors (p < 0.05). The perforated group with post-appendectomy abscess had a significantly longer median hospital stay than the non-perforated group (12.0 vs. 6.0 days; p < 0.01). ROC analysis identified CRP (AUC 0.69, cutoff 34.5 mg/L; p < 0.05) and symptom duration (AUC 0.74, cutoff 35 h; p < 0.01) as predictors of perforation. The high perforation rate of appendicitis in infants and toddlers is associated with prolonged symptoms, elevated CRP, and appendicoliths. Extended symptom duration and appendicoliths increase the risk of post-appendectomy abscesses.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99293-1Infantile appendicitisPerforationComplication
spellingShingle Deyu Li
Zhengquan Zhang
Jin Wan
Jian Zhao
Ge Wei
Wuji Pan
Ying Yan
Yu Zhang
Faling Chen
Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center study
Scientific Reports
Infantile appendicitis
Perforation
Complication
title Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center study
title_full Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center study
title_fullStr Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center study
title_full_unstemmed Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center study
title_short Clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3: A retrospective two-center study
title_sort clinical features and perforation predictors of appendicitis in infants and toddlers under 3 a retrospective two center study
topic Infantile appendicitis
Perforation
Complication
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99293-1
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