Katie E Rollins1, Krishna K Varadhan1, Keith R Neal2, Dileep N Lobo3. 1. Gastrointestinal Surgery, Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals, Queen's Medical Centre, E Floor, West Block, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Nottingham University Hospitals, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK. 3. Gastrointestinal Surgery, Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Unit, Nottingham University Hospitals, Queen's Medical Centre, E Floor, West Block, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. dileep.lobo@nottingham.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Uncomplicated acute appendicitis has been managed traditionally by early appendicectomy. However, recently, there has been increasing interest in the potential for primary treatment with antibiotics, with studies finding this to be associated with fewer complications than appendicectomy. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of antibiotic therapy with appendicectomy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis. METHOD: This meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials included adult patients presenting with uncomplicated acute appendicitis treated with antibiotics or appendicectomy. The primary outcome measure was complications. Secondary outcomes included treatment efficacy, hospital length of stay (LOS), readmission rate and incidence of complicated appendicitis. RESULTS: Five randomised controlled trials with a total of 1430 participants (727 undergoing antibiotic therapy and 703 undergoing appendicectomy) were included. There was a 39 % risk reduction in overall complication rates in those treated with antibiotics compared with those undergoing appendicectomy (RR 0.61, 95 % CI 0.44-0.83, p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in hospital LOS (mean difference 0.25 days, 95 % CI -0.05 to 0.56, p = 0.10). In the antibiotic cohort, 123 of 587 patients initially treated successfully with antibiotics were readmitted with symptoms suspicious of recurrent appendicitis. The incidence of complicated appendicitis was not increased in patients who underwent appendicectomy after "failed" antibiotic treatment (10.8 %) versus those who underwent primary appendicectomy (17.9 %). CONCLUSION: Increasing evidence supports the primary treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotics, in terms of complications, hospital LOS and risk of complicated appendicitis. Antibiotics should be prescribed once a diagnosis of acute appendicitis is made or considered.
BACKGROUND: Uncomplicated acute appendicitis has been managed traditionally by early appendicectomy. However, recently, there has been increasing interest in the potential for primary treatment with antibiotics, with studies finding this to be associated with fewer complications than appendicectomy. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of antibiotic therapy with appendicectomy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis. METHOD: This meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials included adult patients presenting with uncomplicated acute appendicitis treated with antibiotics or appendicectomy. The primary outcome measure was complications. Secondary outcomes included treatment efficacy, hospital length of stay (LOS), readmission rate and incidence of complicated appendicitis. RESULTS: Five randomised controlled trials with a total of 1430 participants (727 undergoing antibiotic therapy and 703 undergoing appendicectomy) were included. There was a 39 % risk reduction in overall complication rates in those treated with antibiotics compared with those undergoing appendicectomy (RR 0.61, 95 % CI 0.44-0.83, p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in hospital LOS (mean difference 0.25 days, 95 % CI -0.05 to 0.56, p = 0.10). In the antibiotic cohort, 123 of 587 patients initially treated successfully with antibiotics were readmitted with symptoms suspicious of recurrent appendicitis. The incidence of complicated appendicitis was not increased in patients who underwent appendicectomy after "failed" antibiotic treatment (10.8 %) versus those who underwent primary appendicectomy (17.9 %). CONCLUSION: Increasing evidence supports the primary treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotics, in terms of complications, hospital LOS and risk of complicated appendicitis. Antibiotics should be prescribed once a diagnosis of acute appendicitis is made or considered.
Authors: Jan F Svensson; Barbora Patkova; Markus Almström; Hussein Naji; Nigel J Hall; Simon Eaton; Agostino Pierro; Tomas Wester Journal: Ann Surg Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 12.969
Authors: M M N Leeuwenburgh; M J Wiezer; B M Wiarda; W H Bouma; S S K S Phoa; H B A C Stockmann; S Jensch; P M M Bossuyt; M A Boermeester; J Stoker Journal: Br J Surg Date: 2013-11-22 Impact factor: 6.939
Authors: Paulina Salminen; Risto Tuominen; Hannu Paajanen; Tero Rautio; Pia Nordström; Markku Aarnio; Tuomo Rantanen; Saija Hurme; Jukka-Pekka Mecklin; Juhani Sand; Johanna Virtanen; Airi Jartti; Juha M Grönroos Journal: JAMA Date: 2018-09-25 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Tyler J Loftus; Scott C Brakenridge; Chasen A Croft; R Stephen Smith; Philip A Efron; Frederick A Moore; Alicia M Mohr; Janeen R Jordan Journal: J Surg Res Date: 2017-11-13 Impact factor: 2.192
Authors: Maxim Avanesov; Nis Jesper Wiese; Murat Karul; Helena Guerreiro; Sarah Keller; Philip Busch; Frank Jacobsen; Gerhard Adam; Jin Yamamura Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2018-03-14 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Tyler J Loftus; Camille G Dessaigne; Chasen A Croft; R Stephen Smith; Philip A Efron; Frederick A Moore; Scott C Brakenridge; Alicia M Mohr; Janeen R Jordan Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2018-02 Impact factor: 3.313