Precise antibiotic dosage found to reduce postoperative complications in common surgical procedure

Mr Ram Nataraja

New research led by Mr Ram Nataraja from the Department of Paediatrics has demonstrated the precise antibiotic post-operative dosage which can significantly reduce wound infection rates amongst children who undergo a simple appendicectomy.

Appendicitis carries a seven percent lifetime risk of getting the condition, with appendicectomy one of the most common emergency operations performed in childhood.

Currently, there is limited evidence for the use of postoperative intravenous antibiotics for simple appendicitis (SA) in children, and no standard treatment – with the amount varying greatly throughout the world from a single dose to a three-day course.

Though more common in complicated appendicitis (CA), there is a significant incidence of postoperative complications in patients with SA, and the use of antibiotics remains controversial.

In a randomised controlled trial conducted at Monash Children’s Hospital, researchers recruited 300 children under 16 years of age who underwent keyhole surgery for SA, to determine whether the amount of antibiotics they received following the operation could be minimised. The trial compared two patient groups, one who received two doses of intravenous antibiotics, and the other placebo, to determine whether wound infection would occur.

The study found that there was a significant decrease in wound infection rates for those that received two doses of antibiotics. Mr Nataraja says that by administering these doses following SA procedures will help to prevent postoperative complications.

“Our research has found that we can minimise the risks after the surgery for appendicitis in children and prevent them having to go through more procedures or undue stress following this common procedure.”