[Suspected appendicitis -- is a conservative attitude advantageous? (author's transl)].

Between 1970 and 1973 1333 patients with suspected appendicitis were seen at the University Hospital of Basle. Operations were performed on 87.5%, of whom 89.8% proved to have appendicitis. The incidence of perforation was 13.5%. A five-year follow-up study was carried out on 100 cases dismissed without operative revision and appendectomy. Of these patients 20 later had an appendectomy and 42% did not approve of the conservative attitude. The high rate of secondary appendectomies within 5 years seems to advocate liberal indication for appendectomy if appendicitis is considered.