Ultrasonographic findings after conservative treatment of acute appendicitis and open appendicectomy.
In a randomized study we investigated the effects of antibiotics as the only treatment in acute appendicitis. Forty patients were examined, 19 after antibiotic treatment (one operated due to perforation) and 21 after surgery. All patients were examined prior to randomization, after 10 days and after 30 days. Of the positive ultrasonographic (US) findings, 18 (86%) of the 21 operated patients had histologically proven acute appendicitis. At the 10th day, 9 patients had a seroma under the scar, which had disappeared a month after surgery in all patients. In the 19 patients conservatively treated with antibiotics, the appendix could be visualized in 8 symptom-free cases on the 10th day. In 5 of the 8 patients the appendix was still visualized after 1 month. Three of these 5 had recurrent appendicitis within a year. It is concluded that US can be used not only in diagnosing acute appendicitis, but also in the evaluation of treatments such as antibiotics.
Eriksson
S
S
Department of Surgery, Karolinska Institute and Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
Tisell
A
A
Granström
L
L
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D001065:Appendix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents