Timing of antibiotic treatment in non-perforated gangrenous appendicitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether antibiotic treatment with cefuroxime and tinidazole started during the operation was as effective as treatment started before operation in patients with gangrenous non-perforated appendicitis.


METHODS
Prospective randomised study.


METHODS
University hospital, Sweden.


METHODS
114 patients with gangrenous, non-perforated appendicitis who had had antibiotics started before operation and 120 whose treatment was started during operation out of a total of 575 who presented with a presumptive diagnosis of appendicitis.


METHODS
Morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
There were no deaths, and the rates of infective complications were 1/114 (0.9%) and 3/120 (3%), respectively. The median hospital stay was four days in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibiotic treatment started during the operation is not significantly worse at preventing infective complications in non-perforated, gangrenous appendicitis than treatment started before the operation.
Almqvist
P
P
Department of Surgery, Lund University, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Leandoer
L
L
Törnqvist
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents