The Effectiveness of Postoperative Antibiotics following Appendectomy in Pediatric Patients: A Cost Minimization Analysis

Abstract

Background: Appendicitis has a high occurrence and is frequently indicated in pediatric abdominal surgery. However, up to 33% of affected children may not present with distinct symptoms, and young children may be a typical or show delayed presentation of symptoms. Appendectomy is one of the most common emergent surgeries to treat appendicitis. After an appendectomy, prophylaxis antibiotics are required to abate infections at the location of surgery and have been shown to reduce postoperative surgical complications significantly. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the most cost-effective prophylactic antibiotic combination between ceftriaxone-metronidazole and cefotaxime-metronidazole following appendectomy. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using investigations with a similar design and pediatric medical records from 2011 until 2013 from a referral hospital in Bandung City. All direct medical costs related to pediatric appendectomy were collected and discounted. Independent Student’s t-test and chi-square analysis were used. Results: The average total cost of ceftriaxone-metronidazole was USD 393.83/patient and that of cefotaxime-metronidazole was USD 397.89/patient. There were no significant differences in average direct medical costs between treatments with ceftriaxone-metronidazole and cefotaxime-metronidazole (p=0.383). The analysis suggests that both antibiotic combinations have the same effectiveness and cost. For the combinations of ceftriaxone-metronidazole and cefotaxime-metronidazole, approximately USD 1.88 and USD 2.28 were required, respectively, to reduce one day of hospitalization after an appendectomy. Additionally, to increase one percent of cure rate, an amount of USD 19.70 and USD 24.89 was required for ceftriaxone-metronidazole and cefotaxime-metronidazole, respectively. Conclusion: Both therapies investigated were effective as a postoperative antibiotic. However, the combination of ceftriaxone and metronidazole may be more cost-efficient.

Cost Consequence Analysis Analysis Penggunaan Antibiotik pada Penyakit Apendisitis di RS PKU Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

“…Sementara pada penelitian Sinuraya tahun 2020, pemberian antibiotik ceftriaxone dan ceftazidim pada apendiktomi anak menyatakan bahwa antara 2 kelompok antibiotik tidak ada perbedaan yang signifikan pada LOS (Sinuraya, Aini, Rahayu, Wathoni, & Abdulah, 2020). Perbedaan dengan penelitian yg dilakukan kemungkinan terjadi karena faktor prosedur operasi yang dilakukan yaitu operasi terbuka dan laparatomi, karena sebagian besar kelompok tidak sesuai CP menggunakan prosedur operasi tebuka yaitu 12 pasien dari 18 pasien.…”