New Evidence Shows Patients With Appendicitis May Not Need Surgery

There's mounting evidence that some patients can avoid or delay an appendectomy and receive treatment with antibiotics instead. CBS2's Dr. Max Gomez reports.

[PenelopePeriwinkle]

No. Get the surgery. You don’t want that to burst.

[AzianDaMax]

I just had an appendectomy 2 days ago. When discussing treatment options with my surgeon, she strongly suggested I go through with surgery because about 20% of people who go with the antibiotics route get appendicitis again in the future. I had the surgery done laparoscopically and I was back home in less than 24 hours.

[malikjones]

Nope. Don't mislead people. Get it out

[oleggeraschenko]

Absolutely not - delaying the surgery bears the risk of appendix bursting which can cause life-threatening sepsis. That risk outweighs any benefits of avoiding surgery. The keyhole surgery is minimally invasive, so surgery risks are far too small compared to a burst appendix

[oleggeraschenko]

And how many in the antibiotic group got their appendix to burst because they didn’t have the surgery?

[jenraider]

I had severe endometriosis issues resulting in a laparoscopy, return of endo symptoms and eventually a trip to Metairie Louisiana for treatment. I had a laparoscopy one day and then returned the next day for a more in-depth laparotomy procedure. They even gave me a video recording of my entire surgery. Full service, indeed. Anyway, I remember the doctor telling me afterward that while he was "in there" they decided to remove my appendix as a more or less precautionary measure, as it would not do any harm to remove it.
I've not had any problems related to its removal and actually feel grateful that they made the "pre-emptive" strike since I don't have to worry about appendicitis. I have not thought about this in years, this was in 1997. Now I wonder- am I crazy and not recalling this correctly; am I wrong? I could not find supporting info about similar patient experiences, hence my feeling of self-doubt. Has anyone reading this also had theirs removed during an unrelated surgery or can someone tell me if this is a more routine thing, since it may well be nowadays? Just curious since I happened upon this video. It's strange to doubt one's own recollections but I just hadn't thought about it in many years so maybe my memory is on the Fritz Mondale. Thanks...

[oleggeraschenko]

Absolutely not - delaying the surgery bears the risk of appendix bursting which can cause life-threatening sepsis. That risk outweighs any benefits of avoiding surgery

[krazypersian]

i went to laprotomy, my dr suggest me new ct scan, as i did new ct scan, there is no appendix shown.

[Dutchmaster-hl]

I'm the missing kid from 99 rockford ill

[ra-benheka]

The non doctors talkung about getting surgery.

[daltondyer]

This is mild practice, I should have never had my appendix removed

[angelh]

You have a choice;
1. Get surgery, be free from pain get in with your life.
2.Don’t get surgery, suffer, risk of death from burst appendix. Take antibiotics for the rest of your life and mess up your immune system, plus unpleasant side effects.