Immediate operation versus percutaneous drainage for treatment of appendicular abscess

AimThis study aims to compare the outcomes, morbidity and hospital stay in patients who underwent emergency surgery, and those who underwent percutaneous drainage for treatment of appendicular abscess.Patients and methodsFrom April 2013 to October 2014, we recruited 40 patients with appendicular abscesses for this study. These patients were randomized into two groups: group 1 (20 patients) for emergency surgery and group 2 (20 patients) for percutaneous drainage. Preoperative data, hospital stay, functional recovery and postoperative complications were analyzed.ResultsFunctional recovery was 2.2 ± 1 days in group 1 and 1 ± 0 day in group 2. Hospital stay in group 1 was 7.7 ± 3.5 days and in group 2 was 4 ± 1 days. Postoperative complications in group 1 were noted in 8 (40%) patients. No complications were recorded in group 2.ConclusionsAppendicular abscesses may be safely and effectively treated by US-guided percutaneous drainage with high technical and clinical success rates, low incidence of complications and shorter hospital stay.