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Background: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency amongst the paediatric population. Available diagnostic tools are focussed to make a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. A definitive predictive factor for the diagnosis of complicated appendicitis is lacking. Thus, this aims to analyse hyperbilirubinaemia as a predictor of complicated appendicitis amongst the paediatric population.Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital from November 2018 to October 2019. All children undergoing emergency appendectomy were included in the study. Preoperatively, patients were evaluated clinically, and routine investigations including total and direct serum bilirubin were sent. All patients were grouped as 'simple appendicitis' or 'complicated appendicitis' based on intra-operative and histological findings. Bilirubin level was compared between these groups and analysed.Results: A total of 52 children fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. The mean age was 13.2 ± 4.2 years, and the male: female ratio was 2.1:1. Thirty-four (65.4%) had simple appendicitis and 18 (34.6%) had complicated appendicitis. Total bilirubin was 23.83 ± 5.94 mmol/L in the complicated appendicitis group and 13.15 ± 3.29 mmol/L in the simple appendicitis group. Direct bilirubin was 5.28 ± 2.22 mmol/L in complicated appendicitis and 2.62 ± 0.83 mmol/L in simple one. Both total and direct bilirubin were significantly high in the complicated group (P < 0.001) compared to the simple appendicitis group. On the Receiver operating curve (ROC), the best cutoff value for total and direct bilirubin was 21 and 5.5 mmol/L, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of total and direct bilirubin were 72.2%, 100%, and 61.1%, and 85.3%, respectively.Conclusion: It is concluded that hyperbilirubinaemia is a good predictor for paediatric complicated appendicitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pediatric tumors are least prioritized but serious problems. Multidisciplinary management improves survival. Incidences, types and follow up results on Nepalese pediatric tumors have not yet been studied. To highlight our center's experiences on pediatric tumors management and follow up is aimed., Methods: All pediatric surgical tumors admitted in pediatric surgery unit from 2065-2070 BS werer studied. Patients evaluated with or without chemo/radiotherapy pre or post surgery. Total of 22 cases from age four months to 13 years were studied., Results: Tumor detection shown highest in age group below 3 years, followed by 5-10 years. Mean age was 54 months. Most common problem (22.7%) was Sacrococcygeal teratoma (histologically matured). 13% Nephroblastoma, 9% ovarian tumor, 9% Neuroblastoma and various others each were 4.45%. Majority underwent surgical excision of tumors. Three cases pre surgery and 5 post-surgery, received chemotherapy. Rest had only excision of tumor mass. Follow up were from three weeks to five years period. During this period, two patients expired (one due to complication of second cycle of chemotherapy and second one died with severe aspiration after second laparotomy for intestinal obstruction one year after initial Nephroblastoma excision.) One patient lost for follow up after excision of stage V Nephroblastoma and first cycle of chemotherapy., Conclusions: Management of pediatric tumors is complicated. Thus it needs better multidisciplinary centre of excellence for satisfactory results. Management is directed according to incidence, types, standard management protocol, which is not studied yet in Nepal. Research on pediatric tumors is virgin area. Large scale studies need to conduct in detail and a center of excellence is essential to provide better services.