Appendicitis

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Appendicitis is defined as "Acute inflammation of the appendix. Acute appendicitis is classified as simple, gangrenous, or perforated."[1]

The rates of unnecessary appendectomy and of perforation have not improved over time[2][3] in spite of increased use of laboratory tests[3] and diagnostic imaging[4].

Complications

Abscess

Appendiceal abscess or phlegmon occurs in 4% of cases.[5] It is controversial whether these patients require and appendectomy.[5]

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2007/MB_cgi?term=appendicitis
  2. Flum DR, Morris A, Koepsell T, Dellinger EP (October 2001). "Has misdiagnosis of appendicitis decreased over time? A population-based analysis". JAMA 286 (14): 1748–53. PMID 11594900[e]
  3. 3.0 3.1 Scitovsky AA (December 1985). "Changes in the costs of treatment of selected illnesses, 1971-1981". Med Care 23 (12): 1345–57. PMID 4087950[e]
  4. Perez J, Barone JE, Wilbanks TO, Jorgensson D, Corvo PR (March 2003). "Liberal use of computed tomography scanning does not improve diagnostic accuracy in appendicitis". Am. J. Surg. 185 (3): 194–7. PMID 12620554[e]
  5. 5.0 5.1 Andersson RE, Petzold MG (2007). "Nonsurgical treatment of appendiceal abscess or phlegmon: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Ann. Surg. 246 (5): 741–8. DOI:10.1097/SLA.0b013e31811f3f9f. PMID 17968164. Research Blogging.