Acute appendicitis: Risks of perforation, post-op complication rise with delays to surgery

Appendectomy for acute appendicitis should remain an emergent procedure, according to Drs. Kristen M. Westfall and Anthony Charles, whose review of 1,007 cases from 2011-2015 found that risk of appendiceal perforation rose 9.2% per day delay of treatment, with 23% increased risk of post-operative abscess. Mean time from symptom onset to surgery was 3.24 ± 2.2 days. Recent studies had suggested non-emergent management. The study also found statistically significant increased risk of perforation linked to age, male sex, temperature upon admission and presence of fecalith – as well as increased cost of care.