Transcript - Catalyst
Epidemiology of Appendicitis
Aya Reiss, MS3
Pediatric Surgery Clerkship
February 11, 2010
SM
6 y/o M presents to ER with 3 day hx of
abdominal pain
HPI: Afebrile at presentation (37.4). Day of
admission, nausea and vomiting with emesis
x10 (nonbloody, nonbilious). No change in
bowel habits.
PMH: Congenital innocent heart murmur
FH: Noncontributory
SM
Vitals: T 37.4 HR 118 RR 26 BP 119/91 100RA
PE:
HEENT: Unremarkable
CV: RRR, no M/R/G
Resp: Clear bilaterally
Abd: Hypoactive bowel sounds. No masses or
hepatosplenomegaly. Tender to palpation in RLQ
at McBurney’s point. Positive obturator and
Rovsing’s sign.
SM
Labs: WBC 35.3
Imaging: U/S
SM
SM
SM
Hospital Course:
Taken to OR for laparoscopic
appendectomy
Post-op: IV to PO antibiotics, diet
advanced, WBC decreased (11.1), pain
controlled, patient stable
Discharged with activity and bathing
restrictions. Clinic f/u in 2 weeks.
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Differential treatment
Conclusions
Outline
Demographics
Infectious disease
Noncommunicable disease
Surgical disease
Theories
Differential treatment
Conclusions
Demographics - Infectious1
globalizationstudies.sas.upenn.edu/.../term/91
Demographics 2
Noncommunicable
Demographics - Surgical
Geographical patterns
Appendicitis in:
US 37.1/10,0003
South Africa 1.1/10,0004
US vs. Gambia5
Appendicitis
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
IBD
Perirectal abscess and anal fissure
Neuroblastoma
Gastroschesis
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Pathophysiology
Dietary Fiber
Hygiene
Tropical enteropathy
Viral infection
Differential treatment
Conclusions
Pathophysiology6
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Pathophysiology
Dietary Fiber
Hygiene
Tropical enteropathy
Viral infection
Differential treatment
Conclusions
Dietary Fiber Hypothesis7
1880s-90s - Decreased consumption of
cellulose link with appendicitis - Bristol
1890s - White bread vs. brown bread
increase digestive tract disease- US/UK
1920s - Food refinement is a cause - India
1950s - High fiber diet East/South Africa
decrease frequency
1956 - Sugar and refined cereal foods
promote - West
Dietary Fiber Hypothesis
Observation: lack of
dietary fiber and
increased refined
products increases
digestive tract
disease
Controlled studies:
inconclusive
findings8,9
NHANES II: racial
patterns prevail10
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Pathophysiology
Dietary Fiber
Hygiene
Tropical enteropathy
Viral infection
Differential treatment
Conclusions
Hygiene Hypothesis
1980s - Better
living standards
and sanitation
increase
appendicitis11
Hygiene Hypothesis
Less frequent infections
Predispose to lymphoid hyperplasia
and obstruction
Alter response to infection - hygienic
environments trigger acute
appendicitis when exposed
Treg downregulate TH1 and TH2
responses in individuals in
daycare, born on farms, from
larger families12
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Pathophysiology
Dietary Fiber
Hygiene
Tropical enteropathy
Viral infection
Differential treatment
Conclusions
Tropical Enteropathy
8,13
Hypothesis
Villi blunting, crypt
hyperplasia,
inflammation of
lamina propria
Largely correlative
Consistent with
hygiene hypothesis
Tropical Enteropathy
Hypothesis
Chronic or recurrent gut infection
correlates with decreased disease and
vice versa
Emergence of disease with migration
into environments of improved
sanitation
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Pathophysiology
Dietary Fiber
Hygiene
Tropical enteropathy
Viral infection
Differential treatment
Conclusions
Viral Infection14
Stimulates lymphoid hyperplasia and
lumen obstruction
Could lead to mucosal ulceration
predisposing to subsequent bacterial
infection
Viral infection
Viral Infection
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Differential Treatment
Antibiotics vs. surgery
Conclusions
Antibiotics vs. Surgery
Standard of practice in North America is
surgery for children15
Efficacy antibiotic tx for uncomplicated from
85-100% with 10-35% chance recurrence in
all age groups16
Recent meta-analysis (in adults)17:
Antibiotics have 68% success rate
Appendectomy remains gold standard
Antibiotics appropriate primary treatment to
reduce risk of complications
Outline
Demographics
Theories
Differential Treatment
Conclusions
Conclusions
Geography of appendicitis is varied
Different hypotheses exist to explain these
differences but nothing conclusive to date
Strong evidence for surgical treatment of
appendicitis
Developing greater understanding of possible
causes might lead to preventative action
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Freifeld C and J Brownstein. 2007. HealthMap - Global Disease Alert Map.
http://globalizationstudies.sas.upenn.edu/taxonomy/term/91. Accessed January 2010.
WHO, 2008. The world health report 2008: primary health care now more than ever. World Health
Organization. Geneva. Annual report.
Addiss DG, Shaffer N, Fowler BS and RV Tauxe. 1990. The epidemiology of appendicitis and
appendectomy in the United States. Am J Epidemiol 132:910-025.
Walker AR, Shipton E, Walker BF, Manetsi B, Van Resnburg PS and HH Vorster. 1989. Appendicectomy
incidence in Black and White children ages 0 to 14 years with a discussion on the disease’s causation.
Trop Gastroenterol 10:96-101.
Bickler SW and B Sanno-Duanda. 2000. Epidemiology of paediatric surgical admissions to a
government referral hospital in the Gambia. Bull World Health Organ 78(11):1330-1336.
UpToDate. 2010. Evaluation and diagnosis of appendicitis in children. Accessed February 2010.
Walker ARP and I Segal. 1994. Appendicitis: an African perspective. J R Soc Med 88:616-619.
Bickler SW and A DeMaio. 2008. Western diseases: current concepts and implications for pediatric
surgery research and practice. Pediatr Surg Int 24:251-255.
Nelson M, Morris J, Barer DJ and S Simmonds. 1986. A case-control study of acute appendicitis and
diet in children. J Epidemiol Community Health 40:316-318. - No difference in fiber intake between kids
with and without appendicitis.
Block G and E Lanza. 1987. Dietary fiber sources in the United States by demographic group. J Nat
Cancer Inst 79:83-91.
References cont.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Barker DJP, Osmond C, Golding J and MEG Wadsworth. 1988. Acute appendicitis and
bathrooms in three samples of British children. British Medical Journal 296:956-958.
UpToDate. 2010. T helper subsets: Differentiation and role in disease. Accessed
February 2010.
Bickler S. 2006. Tropical enteropathy protects against Western diseases in environments
of poor sanitation. Medical Hypotheses 67:146-150.
Alder AC, Thomas BF, Woodward WA, Haley RW, Sarosi G and EH Livingston. 2010.
Association of Viral Infection and Appendicitis. Arch Surg 145:63-71.
Muehlstedt SG, Pham TQ and DJ Schmeling. 2004. The management of pediatric
appendicitis: a survey of North American Pediatric Surgeons. J Pediatr Surg 39:875.
Vons C. 2009. Can acute appendicitis be treated by antibiotics and in what conditions?
Journal de Chirurgie 1465:517-521.
Varadhan KK, Humes DJ, Neal KR and DN Lobo. 2010. Antibiotic Therapy Versus
Appendectomy for Acute Appendiciis: A Meta-Analysis. 34:199-209.