A STUDY ON OUTCOME OF CONSERVATIVELY MANAGED APPENDICITIS

BACKGROUND Appendicitis is the most common acute abdominal condition requiring a surgical intervention, worldwide. Conservative management of uncomplicated appendicitis and the need for an interval appendicectomy are still an area of debate. This study aims to find the recurrence rate of appendicitis in conservatively managed patients and to analyse its related factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a prospective study done on general surgical patients from February 2014 to July 2015 in a tertiary level teaching hospital. Patients with appendicitis who were conservatively managed were followed up for a period of 1 year and their initial presentation and recurrence of disease were studied. RESULTS Out of 184 patients studied, 67 developed recurrence (36.4%). Ultrasound scan finding of an increased appendicular diameter (>or = 7 mm) was found to be a significant predictive factor. CONCLUSION Conservative management of uncomplicated appendicitis is a valid option and an interval appendicectomy is not mandatory in all such patients. High recurrence rate among those who had a USG finding of dilated appendix suggests that it may be considered as an indication for suggesting interval appendicectomy