Antibiotics vs. Surgery for Appendicitis: Long-Term Outcomes

At 7 years, quality of life was similar with either treatment, but satisfaction was higher with appendectomy.

The Appendicitis Acuta (APPAC) multicenter, randomized study demonstrated that, at 1 year follow-up, treatment with antibiotics allowed 73% of patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis to avoid surgery (NEJM JW Gen Med Jul 15 2015 and JAMA 2015; 313:2340).

Investigators have now completed a secondary analysis of 423 APPAC patients at a median of 7 years follow-up to compare quality of life (QOL) and patient satisfaction in those treated with antibiotics versus those who underwent immediate primary appendectomy.

Of patients randomized to antibiotics, 39% eventually underwent appendectomy, mostly during the first year. QOL was the same with either treatment, as measured by the health value index (1.0) and the self-rated visual analog scale…

Reviewing Author

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Antibiotics vs. Surgery for Appendicitis: Long-Term Outcomes

Topics

Reviewing Author