On-table Diagnostic Accuracy and the Clinical Significance of Routine Exploration in Open Appendectomies

Based on these results, it seems that the on-table diagnostic accuracy in open appendectomies is low and surgeons' on-table diagnosis should not be the determining factor for whether further exploration is necessary. Exploration for other intra-abdominal pathology should be routine irrespective of the on-table diagnosis, the surgeon's experience and patient gender and age. An alternative is minimal-access surgery in which inspection of other intra-abdominal organs can be performed more easily.