Appendicitis medical therapy

Appendicitis Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Surgery is the most effective medical therapy in treating appendicitis. Laproscopic surgery is the preferred method of surgery due to reduced complications and recovery time for the patient. Antibiotics are provided intravenously to the patient to kill bacteria and to reduce the risk of bacterial spread in the abdomen post-surgery.

Surgery

Appendicectomy, or laproscopic removal of the appendix are the most effective therapies in treating appendicitis.

Antibiotics

In combination with surgery, antibiotics given intravenously such as cefuroxime and metronidazole may be administered early to help kill bacteria and thus reduce the spread of infection in the abdomen and postoperative complications in the abdomen or wound. Equivocal cases may become more difficult to assess with antibiotic treatment and benefit from serial examinations.