A Global Prospective Cohort Study on Outcomes of Appendicectomy for Appendicitis

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM · Jan 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how appendicitis, a common emergency condition that often requires surgery, is managed around the world. The goal is to understand what works well and what doesn’t in different healthcare systems, especially in countries with fewer resources. By studying more than 14,000 patients from about 500 hospitals, researchers hope to find ways to improve access to safe and timely treatment for appendicitis. They will look at important factors like how quickly patients receive care, the types of surgery performed, and the costs involved, particularly for patients in lower-income countries.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be undergoing surgery for suspected or confirmed appendicitis, regardless of age or the type of surgical approach (like traditional open surgery or minimally invasive methods). Patients who had their appendix removed as part of another surgery, or for reasons other than appendicitis, won’t be included. Those who take part can expect their data to help improve emergency surgical care globally, making it safer and more accessible for everyone. Additionally, the study will explore how hospitals manage waste and the financial impacts of appendicitis surgery on patients, aiming for better practices in healthcare.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age: There are no age restrictions, although, if appropriate participating hospitals can choose to only include children or only adults, based on an age cut-off of their choice.
• • Procedure: All patients undergoing appendicectomy for suspected or confirmed appendicitis by any surgical approach should be included. This includes patients who went theatre with suspect appendicitis even if the intraoperative or pathology results found a different diagnosis, so long as an appendicectomy was performed. It also includes patients who went to theatre for reasons other than suspected appendicitis but were found to have appendicitis intraoperatively and underwent appendicectomy. This includes interval appendicectomy and right hemicolectomy if performed for acute appendicitis.
• • Approach: Both open and minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) interventions are eligible for inclusion. Laparoscopic and robotic converted to open cases are also eligible.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Indication: Appendicectomy for any indication other than suspected or confirmed appendicitis should be excluded. For example, patients having appendicectomy for known appendiceal neoplasm.
• • Procedure: Patients having appendectomy as part of another surgical procedure should be excluded. For example, patients having removal of appendix as part of a colon cancer procedure are not eligible for inclusion.
• • Approach: Natural orifice surgery and endoscopic treatment for suspected appendicitis are excluded.
• • Previous appendicectomy: Patients having surgery for stump appendicitis are excluded.
• • Return to theatre: Patients should be entered into study only once. A patient returning to theatre after appendectomy should not be re-entered as a new patient.