Chronic pain from retained Hem-o-lok^® clips after pediatric appendectomy: the imperative for surgical removal

While Hem-o-lok^® clips are widely used and generally safe in children, retained clips have been rarely associated with refractory chronic abdominal pain. This study aimed to investigate the association between retained Hem-o-lok^® clips and refractory chronic abdominal pain following pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy and compare therapeutic outcomes between device removal and conservative management.