title: Management of the acute appendix mass: a survey of surgical practice.
abstract: Management of the appendix mass is controversial with no consensus in the literature. Traditionally, the approach has been conservative followed by interval appendicectomy. A survey was distributed to 117 surgeons (100 consultants and 17 final year specialist registrars) to determine how the appendix mass is currently treated in Ireland. In total, 70 surgeons responded. 51 (73%) adopt a conservative approach initially. 48 (68%) favoured interval appendicectomy at six weeks after a period of successful conservative management. 34 (49%) gave risk of recurrence as the reason for performing interval appendicectomy and 16 (22%) would perform interval appendicectomy in order to obtain histological analysis to outrule caecal or appendiceal neoplasm. 44 (63%) opted for a laparoscopic rather than an open approach for interval appendicectomy. No consensus exists in Ireland for management of the appendix mass presenting acutely. The present series demonstrates a trend towards conservative approach initially followed by interval appendicectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gately
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lowery
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barry
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001063:Appendiceal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002430:Cecal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012008:Recurrence