An in-hospital delay of appendicitis treatment beyond two days was linked to an increased likelihood of complications, including perforation and abscess formation; longer hospitalization; increased costs; and more rarely, death, according an abstract presented Saturday, Oct. 15 at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition in Boston. In "Missed Opportunities in the Treatment of Pediatric Appendicitis," researchers reviewed National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data on nearly 800,000 appendectomies, the most common inpatient surgical procedure in children...

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