Scientists at University College London have found that most people with appendicitis who take antibiotics rather than have their appendix removed do well for a long time. This method of treatment is suitable for more than half of the patients. The research was published in the journal JAMA Surgery.
The scientists analyzed data from about 300 Swedish patients with appendicitis. Between 1992 and 1996, patients, the majority of whom were men, were either operated or treated with antibiotics. Follow-up data were available for approximately 260 individuals, some of whom were followed for 26 years after appendicitis.
About one in 10 patients who had taken only antibiotics at one point after appendicitis sought medical attention for abdominal pain. In the operated group of patients, this indicator was the same, showing the safety and efficacy of antibiotic treatment of appendicitis.
However, about 30% of patients who received antibiotics alone sooner or later had surgery to remove the appendix.
“Now that we know more about the bacteria in the gut, including appendicitis, there may be long-term benefits to protecting this part of the gut,” the scientists said.
Also, some people fear surgery, so it’s best to try alternative treatments first, the authors added. Non-surgical treatment may also be a good option for patients with high anesthetic risk, such as the elderly.
Antibiotics were first used in the treatment of appendicitis in the 1990s. But in previous studies, patients were followed for five years or less. The new study demonstrates for the first time the long-term safety of non-surgical antibiotic treatment of appendicitis.
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