Efficacy of Non Operative Treatment With Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid Versus Surgical Treatment in Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis in Children (NACAC)

May 19, 2026 updated by: University Hospital, Toulouse

Efficacy of Non Operative Treatment With Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid Versus Surgical Treatment in Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis in Children: a Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial With Cost Utility Analysis

The majority of children with uncomplicated acute appendicitis may be considered for either a non-operative or an operative management. The antibiotic-first strategy appears effective as an initial treatment in 97% of children with uncomplicated AA (recurrence rate 14%), with Non Operative Treatment (NOT) also leading to less morbidity, fewer disability days, and lower costs than surgery. In this trial, the investigators will compare children randomised in a surgery group with children randomised in a NOT group (antibiotic strategy group). Children have 2 on-site visits (including surgery) in the first 12 days with recording of clinical datas and questionnaires, a phone visit at month 1, month 6, month 12 to collect concomitant treatment, Adverse Event (AE) and complications and parental questionnaires at the end of the study. A Cost-Utility analysis will be performed from the healthcare payer's perspective. The time horizon of the medico economic analysis was one year.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The design of the NACAC study is an open-label, randomized, multicenter controlled non-inferiority trial with 2 parallel groups: one group of patients will have appendectomy (ST), and the other group will receive antibiotic treatment (NOT).

Children in the non-operative treatment group will be hospitalised for clinical monitoring with initiation of antibiotic therapy at day 1 with Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid IntraVeinous (IV) in 2 doses daily for a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 48 hours with a relay of Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid Per Os (PO) in 2 doses daily, for a total of 7 days (IV and PO).

Children can be discharged from hospital after day 1 if the clinical conditions are safe.

In case of hypersensitivity to antibiotic administered the patient will be withdrawn from the study.

Children randomised to the Surgical Treatment group will be hospitalised for a surgical usual management within 24 hours, according to the surgical unit organisation.

For all patients a physical examination (same as inclusion) will be made by an investigator at Day 1 and discharge. Questionnaires will be assessed at D1 and discharge. At discharge, parental absenteism will be evaluated. For ST group, possible post-operative complication will also be evaluated. A visit on the investigator site from Day 10 to Day 15 : all the patients will have a complete physical examination (same as inclusion), child activity evolution and parental absenteeism will be evaluated.

An abdominal ultrasound or CT scan will be performed in patients randomized in the non-operative treatment group. AE and concomitant treatment will be assessed at this study visit by questioning, during the physical examination of the patient.

Compliance to study treatment will be reviewed at day 12 in the NOT group. For ST group, possible post-operative complication will also be evaluated.

At Month 1 (D30), Month 6 (M6) and Month 12 (M12) investigator will realize phone visits in order to :

Get safety aspects related to antibiotic treatment and treatment-related failures at month 1, six months and one year, notably, secondary surgery and in ST group, a complication requiring anew general anaesthesia or possible post-operative complication, will be recorded.

Child activity evolution and parental absenteeism will also be recorded. AE and concomitant treatment will be recorded. A Cost-Utility analysis will be performed from the healthcare payer's perspective.This medico anlysis will need Direct medical costs collection based on security social system.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

724

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • France
      • Bordeaux, France
      • Grenoble, France
        • Centre Hopsitalier Universitaire de Grenoble - Hôpital Nord
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Romain FAGUET
      • Lille, France
        • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille - Hôpital Salengro
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Francois DUBOS
        • Contact:
      • Limoges, France
      • Marseille, France
        • AP-HM Hopital Nord
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Anne DARIEL
      • Montpellier, France
        • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - Hôpital Lapeyronie
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Nicolas KALFA
      • Nantes, France
        • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes - Hôtel-Dieu
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Marc-David LECLAIR
      • Paris, France
        • AP-HP Hôpital Trousseau
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Sabine IRTAN
      • Rennes, France
        • Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Rennes
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Alexis ARNAUD
      • Toulouse, France

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age from 5 to <15 years-old
  • Diagnosis of first episode of acute uncomplicated appendicitis confirming the diagnosis:
  • an increase in the calibre of the appendix, measured at more than 6 mm in diameter and non-compressibility
  • free fluid, echogenic fat, regional hyperemia
  • performed in hospital or reviewed by local radiologist investigators if performed outpatient.
  • Surgery expected within 24 hours after diagnosis
  • Parental good understanding of the monitoring French instructions
  • Free and informed consent, signed by both holders of parental authority/legal representative, with the accord of the minor patient.
  • Affiliation to the health insurance plan

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Ultrasound or CT scan showing one or several stercoliths, a plastron, an abscess or peritonitis
  • Non-visualization of the appendix at ultrasound or CT scan
  • Situations contraindicating surgery or anesthesia (patient for whom surgery and anesthesia would pose a life-threatening risk)
  • Patients who have already received antibiotic therapy for acute appendicitis
  • Known immunodepression, ongoing immunosuppressive treatment, diabetes
  • Severe hematologic disorders (such as bone marrow failure, blood clotting disorders)

  • History of proved allergy to Penicillin

    • History of proved allergy to amoxicillin and/or clavulanic acid
    • History of a severe immediate hypersensitivity reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to another beta-lactam agent (e.g. a cephalosporin, carbapenem or monobactam).
    • History of jaundice/hepatic impairment due to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid
    • History of allergy to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1 of each SmPC.
  • On going antibiotherapy : previous antibiotherapy have to be stopped at least 48h before inclusion
  • Parental refusal of research protocol
  • Impossibility of home follow-up after discharge from hospital
  • Pregnancy/ breastfeeding
  • Simultaneously participation in another research study involving medicinal products
  • Mental state rendering the person giving consent incapable of understanding the trial
  • Parents being a relative of the investigator or a relative of someone from the team directly involved in the trial, including assistant doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and trial coordinators
  • Renal insufficiency with creatinine clearance < 30mL/min
  • Presence of an appendicolith

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Non Operative Treatment Group
Children randomised in this group are treated by antibiotic therapy : 80mg/kg/day of amoxicillin for patients weighing less than 40 kg and 3 g/day for those weighing 40 kg or more)with a relay of Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (80mg/kg/day for patients weighing less than 40 kg and 3 g/day for those weighing 40 kg or more) PO in 2 doses daily, for a total antibiotictreatment (IV and PO) of 7 days.
Drug: Amoxi Clavulanate
children in the arm NOT
Other: Surgery Treatment Group
Children randomised in this group the child will undergo appendectomy within 24 hours, according to surgical unit organization. No antibiotics will be administered before surgery.
Procedure: appendicectomy
children in usual care in arm Surgery

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage of treatment-related failures at one year
Time Frame: 12 months
readmissions for suspicion of appendicitis, secondary surgery, emergency visits related to appendicitis management, postoperative infections, side effects of antibiotics, adverse events of anesthesia. In surgery group, a normal appendix based on pathology or a complication requiring a new general anaesthesia
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Initial success rate
Time Frame: Day 12
Day 12
Direct Medical costs, and indirect costs (parental absenteeism) descriptions
Time Frame: Month 12
Month 12
Rehospitalization, appendectomy
Time Frame: from Day 1 to Year 5
Using consumption data available in SNDS database, describe child care pathways over 5 years
from Day 1 to Year 5
Incidence of adverse events
Time Frame: At Month 1 and Month 12
in the two groups, and incidence of adverse events due to antibiotics in the NOT group
At Month 1 and Month 12
Score of quality of life with the questionnaire EQ-5D-Y-3L for children
Time Frame: Day 1, Month 1 and Month 12.
0 is the worst score and 1 the better score (it is possible to have very bad values under 0)
Day 1, Month 1 and Month 12.
Score of of quality of life with the questionnaire EQ-5D-5L for parents
Time Frame: Day 1, Month 1 and Month 12.
0 is the worst score and 1 the better score (it is possible to have very bad values under 0)
Day 1, Month 1 and Month 12.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Hospital, Toulouse

Investigators

  • Study Director: Olivier ABBO, University Hospital of Toulouse

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2034

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 19, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • RC31/24/0320

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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