The study compared outcomes of operative and nonoperative management of acute appendicitis in multi-morbid patients. Using national inpatient data, researchers found that nonoperative management was associated with a 3.5% decrease in complications for multi-morbid patients, but it resulted in a 1.5% increase in mortality. Costs and length of stay were lower for all patients treated with surgery. Concerns were raised regarding the generalizability of prior clinical trials, which predominantly enrolled young and healthy individuals, as outcomes differed in multi-morbid patients.
Journal Article by Lunardi N, Meier J (…) Balentine CJ et 5 al. in BMC Surg
Published by Elsevier Inc.