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RACS ASC 2026
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Peritoneal Lavage and Outcomes in Paediatric Appendectomy.
Poster
Presentation Description

Institution: Royal Perth Hospital - Western Australia, Australia

Purpose Several studies have reported outcomes following intra-operative peritoneal lavage during paediatric appendectomy. Published evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, with variable reporting of postoperative outcomes. This review summarises paediatric studies that have examined intra-operative peritoneal lavage compared with suction alone or alternative lavage techniques during appendectomy. Methodology A qualitative review was performed using paediatric studies identified from PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Eligible studies included randomised controlled trials and observational cohort studies reporting outcomes following intra-operative peritoneal lavage during paediatric appendectomy. Studies involving adult populations were excluded. Data were extracted from published abstracts and summarised descriptively, without quantitative analysis. Results The available studies included both randomised and retrospective observational designs. A prospective randomised trial reported no significant difference between lavage and suction-only techniques in length of hospital stay or postoperative complications. Retrospective cohort studies evaluating complicated appendicitis reported differing findings. One study associated lavage with increased postoperative morbidity and higher readmission rates for intra-abdominal collections, while another reported lower rates of intra-abdominal abscess formation with irrigation plus suction. A comparative study assessing taurolidine versus saline lavage did not demonstrate a clear clinical advantage. Outcomes reported across studies included intra-abdominal abscess formation, length of stay, operative time, and postoperative morbidity. Conclusion Current paediatric evidence does not demonstrate a consistent benefit of routine peritoneal lavage during appendectomy. Variation in reported outcomes supports cautious interpretation and indicates a need for further paediatric studies.
Presenters
Authors
Authors

Dr Ninan Tharakan - , Dr Sophie Fang Lin - , Dr Hari Bains -