Study finds antibiotics could be used to treat appendicitis
- 6 years ago
FINLAND — There is an alternative to patients with appendicitis who don't want to get surgery, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In the past, appendicitis was considered a medical emergency, with surgeons removing the appendix immediately as they feared there was a possibility it would burst.
However, the researchers found that nearly two-thirds of patients with appendicitis don't have to fear their appendix would burst and can choose to take antibiotics instead.
Only 7 percent of patients who received antibiotics were found to have some kind of complications, with the authors saying the success rate for the antibiotic treatment was almost 64 percent.
However, 36 percent of the patients eventually needed surgery to remove their appendix.
The author of the study says antibiotics instead of surgery is a "feasible, viable and a safe option" for those who have an uncomplicated appendix, meaning they don't need to worry about their appendix bursting.
In an editorial accompanying the study, the deputy editor of the journal said the treatment has a high chance of success, but that the public could also choose to get surgery if don't want to worry about appendicitis coming back again.
In the past, appendicitis was considered a medical emergency, with surgeons removing the appendix immediately as they feared there was a possibility it would burst.
However, the researchers found that nearly two-thirds of patients with appendicitis don't have to fear their appendix would burst and can choose to take antibiotics instead.
Only 7 percent of patients who received antibiotics were found to have some kind of complications, with the authors saying the success rate for the antibiotic treatment was almost 64 percent.
However, 36 percent of the patients eventually needed surgery to remove their appendix.
The author of the study says antibiotics instead of surgery is a "feasible, viable and a safe option" for those who have an uncomplicated appendix, meaning they don't need to worry about their appendix bursting.
In an editorial accompanying the study, the deputy editor of the journal said the treatment has a high chance of success, but that the public could also choose to get surgery if don't want to worry about appendicitis coming back again.