Routine appendectomy could be abandoned for uncomplicated appendicitis, study finds

An appendectomy may not be needed in patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis, researchers have reported in JAMA.1

Appendectomy has been the standard treatment for acute appendicitis for more than a century. Although it is generally well tolerated, it is still a major surgical intervention and can be associated with postoperative complications.

The APPAC trial was performed in six Finnish hospitals and included 530 patients aged 18-60 with uncomplicated acute appendicitis confirmed by a computed tomography (CT) scan. Complicated appendicitis was defined as the presence of an appendicolith, perforation, or abscess, …