Initial nonoperative management for periappendiceal abscess

PURPOSE: Our goal was to compare initial operative and nonoperative managem ent for periappendiceal abscess complicating appendicitis. METHODS: This st udy is a retrospective review of 155 consecutive patients with appendicitis complicated by periappendiceal abscess treated between 1992 and 1998. Eigh ty-eight patients were treated initially nonoperatively, and 67 patients we re treated operatively. All patients had localized abdominal tenderness and either computed tomography or intraoperative documentation of an abscess. RESULTS: Our patient population consisted of 107 males and 48 females, with an average age of 33 (range, 16-75) years. Age, gender, comorbidity, white blood cell count, temperature, and heart rate did not differ significantly between groups. For the initial nonoperative management group, the failure rate was 5.8 percent and the appendicitis recurrence rate was 8 percent af ter a mean follow-up of Sb weeks. The response to treatment of the initial nonoperative group and the initial operative group was compared by length o f stay (9 +/- 5 days vs. 9 +/- 3 days; P = not significant), days until whi te blood cell count normalized (3.8 +/- 4 days vs. 3.1 +/- 3 days; P = not significant), days until temperature normalized (3.2 +/- 3 days vs. 3.1 +/- 2 days; P = not significant), and days until a regular diet Was tolerated (4.7 +/- 4 days vs. 4.6 +/- 3 days; P = not significant). Complication rate was significantly lower in the nonoperative group (17 vs. 36 percent; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Initial nonoperative management of appendicitis compli cated by periappendiceal abscess is safe and effective. Patients undergoing initial nonoperative management have a lower rate of complications, but th ey are at risk for recurrent appendicitis.