Analysis of submitted abstracts for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Surgery, National Conference (AAP SoSU)

PurposeIn this study, we characterized the topics and type of research performed for abstracts submitted to the AAP SoSU national conferences from 2010–2013.MethodsAll abstracts submitted to the AAP SoSU Program Committee from 2010–2013 were analyzed. Abstracts were classified as basic science, clinical, domestic, international, as well as by disease processes, single, multicenter, retrospective, prospective, registry data, or other.ResultsFrom 2010–2013, 709 abstracts were submitted (2010 — 163, 2011 — 166, 2012 — 208, 2013 — 172), of which 349 were accepted (49% total acceptance rate (AR)). 17% represented basic science studies (74% AR), while 592 (84%) were clinical studies (44% AR). By disease state, CDH (57 abstracts, 70.2% AR), appendicitis (53 abstracts, 43% AR), and NEC (39 abstracts, 56% AR) were the most common. Most clinical abstracts (63%) were single-center retrospective reviews, 13% were large data registries, < 5% were prospective studies, and only 5 abstracts were randomized controlled trials.ConclusionsThe AAP SoSU abstract submission data demonstrate a wide variety of research studies spanning the entirety of our field. Basic science studies have a higher AR than clinical studies, and the topics of CDH, appendicitis, and NEC continue to be the most popular areas of study.