Post-Operative Antibiotics Duration in the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis

Khong Zi-Shen, Goh Rui Qi Rachel, Ng Wei Jin and Sunder Balasubramaniam

Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

^*Correspondance to: Sunder Balasubramaniam 

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Abstract:

Background: Appendicectomy is presently the gold standard of treatment for acute appendicitis, although the duration and type of antibiotics administered remains variable in clinical practice. We hypothesized that a shortened course of antibiotics would not lead to adverse outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for uncomplicated appendicitis as compared to a longer course. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 940 patients admitted to a tertiary urban hospital. We included adult patients who underwent appendicectomy for acute, uncomplicated appendicitis and who had medical records available from at least one follow-up outpatient visit. We excluded patients who were found to have perforated appendicitis intra operatively, as well as those who had other intra-abdominal infections that may have required treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: those who received 24 h or less of antibiotics (intravenous and oral), and those who received more than this. Outcomes were then compared between the two groups. The primary outcome was rate of intra-abdominal collection, while secondary outcomes were rates of surgical site infection, re-admission to hospital for infectious issues and antibiotic complications. Results and Conclusion: We found no statistically significant difference in the rate of intraabdominal collection, or of any of the secondary outcomes between the two groups. Our data suggests that patients who have undergone appendicectomy for uncomplicated antibiotics should not receive a prolonged course of antibiotics as a routine unless other indications are present.

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Cite the Article:

Zi-Shen K, Rachel GRQ, Jin NW, Balasubramaniam S. Post-Operative Antibiotics Duration in the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis. Clin Case Rep Int. 2022; 6: 1320.