Title |
Antibiotics alone versus appendectomy to treat uncomplicated acute appendicitis in adults: what do meta-analyses say?
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Published in |
World Journal of Emergency Surgery, October 2015
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DOI | 10.1186/s13017-015-0046-1 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Leonardo Lima Rocha, Felipe Martin Bianco Rossi, Camila Menezes Souza Pessoa, Flavia Nunes Dias Campos, Carlos Eduardo Fonseca Pires, Milton Steinman |
Abstract |
Primary appendectomy is the current standard of care for treating uncomplicated acute appendicitis, but interest in conservative treatment with antibiotics alone has been increasing in recent years. Clinical trials so far have shown controversial results. A series of meta-analyses were reviewed. Studies comparing surgery versus antibiotics alone for treating uncomplicated acute appendicitis in adults were included. Descriptive statistics and data on treatment effects were retrieved and summarized. The conservative approach has a success rate of around 60 % and is associated with shorter pain duration, reduced analgesic medication, faster resolution of the inflammation process, lower expenses and quicker return to work. On the other hand, medical treatment leads to high (up to 20 %) readmission rates and more often requires surgery. An operative approach is associated with higher treatment success rates (>90 %) and very a low mortality rate. Based on the current body of evidence, the use of antibiotics for primary treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis cannot be routinely recommended. Appendectomy remains the gold-standard treatment. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Unknown | 2 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 2 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Canada | 1 | 1% |
Brazil | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 81 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Student > Bachelor | 15 | 18% |
Student > Master | 12 | 14% |
Student > Postgraduate | 11 | 13% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 7 | 8% |
Other | 5 | 6% |
Other | 16 | 19% |
Unknown | 17 | 20% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Medicine and Dentistry | 50 | 60% |
Arts and Humanities | 2 | 2% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 2 | 2% |
Unspecified | 2 | 2% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 1% |
Other | 5 | 6% |
Unknown | 21 | 25% |