title: Can acute appendicitis be treated by antibiotics alone?
abstract: Emergency appendectomy at presentation has been the standard of care for acute appendicitis. We examined the use of antibiotics as an alternative treatment. From September 2002 to August 2003, 170 consecutive patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis without abscess were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=151) underwent emergency appendectomy and Group II (n=19) received antibiotics alone. The mode of treatment was at the attending surgeon's discretion. The overall complication rate was eight per cent for Group I and 10 per cent for Group II patients (P = 0.22). Group II patients suffered no complications during antibiotic treatment, and any complications that did occur developed after subsequent appendectomy. One Group II patient had recurrent appendicitis (5%). The length of stay was 2.61 +/- 0.21 days for Group I and 2.95 +/- 0.38 days for Group II patients (P = 0.57). Patients with acute appendicitis may be treated safely with antibiotics alone without emergency appendectomy.
authors: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. kliu@rush.edu
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Liu
authors: Sadie
authors: S
authors: Ahanchi
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Pisaneschi
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Lin
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Walter
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010173:Palpation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents