Journal article
Methods of conservative antibiotic treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis: A systematic review
The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, Vol.86(4), pp.722-736
04/01/2019
DOI: 10.1097/TA.0000000000002137
PMCID: PMC6437084
PMID: 30516592
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meta-analyses and a recent guideline acknowledge that conservative management of uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotics can be successful for patients who wish to avoid surgery. However, guidance as to specific management does not exist. METHODS PUBMED and EMBASE search of trials describing methods of conservative treatment was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. RESULTS Thirty-four studies involving 2,944 antibiotic-treated participants were identified. The greatest experience with conservative treatment is in persons 5 to 50 years of age. In most trials, imaging was used to confirm localized appendicitis without evidence of abscess, phlegmon, or tumor. Antibiotics regimens were generally consistent with intra-abdominal infection treatment guidelines and used for a total of 7 to 10 days. Approaches ranged from 3-day hospitalization on parenteral agents to same-day hospital or ED discharge of stable patients with outpatient oral antibiotics. Minimum time allowed before response was evaluated varied from 8 to 72 hours. Although pain was a common criterion for nonresponse and appendectomy, analgesic regimens were poorly described. Trials differed in use of other response indicators, that is, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and reimaging. Diet ranged from restriction for 48 hours to as tolerated. Initial response rates were generally greater than 90% and most participants improved by 24 to 48 hours, with no related severe sepsis or deaths. In most studies, appendectomy was recommended for recurrence; however, in several, patients had antibiotic retreatment with success. CONCLUSION While further investigation of conservative treatment is ongoing, patients considering this approach should be advised and managed according to study methods and related guidelines to promote informed shared decision-making and optimize their chance of similar outcomes as described in published trials. Future studies that address biases associated with enrollment and response evaluation, employ best-practice pain control and antibiotic selection, better define cancer risk, and explore longer time thresholds for response, minimized diet restriction and hospital stays, and antibiotic re-treatment will further our understanding of the potential effectiveness of conservative management.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Methods of conservative antibiotic treatment of acute uncomplicated appendicitis: A systematic review
- Creators
- David A. Talan - From the Department of Emergency Medicine (D.A.T., G.J.M.)Darin J. Saltzman - Division of Infectious Diseases (D.A.T., G.J.M.), Department of MedicineDaniel A. DeUgarte - Olive View-UCLA Medical CenterGregory J. Moran - Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, Vol.86(4), pp.722-736
- DOI
- 10.1097/TA.0000000000002137
- PMID
- 30516592
- PMCID
- PMC6437084
- NLM abbreviation
- J Trauma Acute Care Surg
- ISSN
- 2163-0755
- eISSN
- 2163-0763
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- R21 DK102048 / NIDDK NIH HHS; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/01/2019
- Academic Unit
- Emergency Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984296976002771
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