Antibiotics vs. surgery for appendicitis: what one surgeon thinks

Here are a few thoughts about the latest chapter in the never-ending debate about antibiotics vs. surgery for the treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis.

You will recall the randomized controlled trial from Finland published in 2015 that found a 27% rate of failure of antibiotics within the first year.

Now that the patients have now been followed for five years, 100 (39%) of the 246 patients treated with antibiotics have experienced persistent or recurrent symptoms requiring appendectomy. Depending on your point of view, this shows that antibiotics are successful for the treatment of simple appendicitis or not.

Continue reading …

Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.


Read the full post on KevinMD.com