{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives: Acute appendicitis is the leading cause of emergency abdominal surgery in children. Although appendectomy remains the standard treatment, antibiotic-based nonoperative management (NOM) is an alternative for selected patients. We performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing these strategies in pediatric uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE via Ovid, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched through 15 July 2026; CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched on 13 October 2026 (PROSPERO: CRD420261447254). Pediatric RCTs were included. RoB 2 and GRADE were used. Random-effects pooling required compatible outcomes. Results: Eight RCTs involving 1920 children were included. Both one-year comparative trials favored appendectomy, but their different composite endpoints were not pooled. NOM avoided appendectomy at one year in 62.5–70.0% in three trials. Clinical complications were uncertain (RR 1.61, 95% CI 0.63–4.13; I2 = 54.9%). No significant pooled difference was found in hospital stay or return to normal activities. Recurrence and school outcomes were reported separately. Conclusions: Appendectomy provides more reliable definitive treatment. NOM can avoid surgery in selected children but carries a risk of subsequent failure or recurrence. Comparative safety and recovery remain uncertain. Families should be informed of these trade-offs and the limitations of the pooled evidence.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates",
    "Al Dhaid Hospital, Sharjah P.O. Box 70225, United Arab Emirates",
    "University Hospital of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 72772, United Arab Emirates"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Omar Hamodat",
      "orcid": "0009-0002-3358-8990"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sana Najjar",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-1376-1626"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alyamama Alnamous",
      "orcid": "0009-0003-6010-3095"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Muhammed Ali Najah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Rama Karima",
      "orcid": "0009-0007-5452-6808"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Deemah Al-Qaisi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marwan Abdulkadder",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-1713-021X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Ahmad Holeihel"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5drvxr8vqxfvg.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/jcm15228910",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "5drvxr8vqxfvg",
  "issns": [
    "2077-0383"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/22/8910",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-13",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5drvxr8vqxfvg.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-14T00:21:07Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/jcm15228910",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/22/8910"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Antibiotic-Based Nonoperative Management Versus Appendectomy for Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials",
  "title_text": "Antibiotic-Based Nonoperative Management Versus Appendectomy for Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-14T00:21:07Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5drvxr8vqxfvg",
  "venue": "Journal of Clinical Medicine",
  "versions": []
}