Patient-Family and Provider Partnerships in the Management of Pediatric Uncomplicated Appendicitis

In recent years, studies have demonstrated non-operative management with antibiotics alone to be a safe and effective treatment option for children with uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Shared decision-making is critical in the treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis due to the markedly different risks and benefits associated with surgery and non-operative management. In this report, we discuss the importance of shared decision-making in surgery using a case of uncomplicated appendicitis as an example. We present both the patient-family and provider perspectives on evaluating and deciding between operative and non-operative management and discuss the value of shared decision-making in the unique setting of an acute pathologic process with surgical and medical treatment options.