Title: Routine Use of Antibiotics in Hernia Surgery in Children: Is It Really Required?
Authors: Tanmay Anand, Samir Gupta, Achal Gupta
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i9.187
Abstract
Objective: Open Inguinal herniotomy in children is most commonly performed day care surgery in paediatric surgical practice. Present study aims to find whether prophylactic use of antibiotics is really necessary in elective hernia surgery in children
Material and Methods: This was a randomized control trial done over a period of 4 yrs prospectively. Total 200 inguinal herniotomies were done by open method by a single paediatric surgeon over 4 yrs. After randomization 100 were given routine antibiotics (amoxicillin+ clavulanic acid) for 3 days post operatively while 97 cases were not given any antibiotics. 3 Patients in non antibiotics group needed antibiotics as they developed features of sepsis like persistently high fever, increase WBC counts.
Outcome measures like hospital stay, fever, wound infections, hematoma formations, recurrence were noted in two groups.
Results: Statistical analysis showed there was no significant difference between the two groups(p>0.05)
Conclusion: Routine use of antibiotics in all elective hernia surgery in children is not having any advantage so it should be restricted to either specific groups like congenial cardiac anomalies patients or should be used only if any need arises post operatively.
Keywords: Paediatric Herniotomy, Antibiotic Protocol, Hernia.
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