eMedicine Specialties > General Surgery > Abdomen

Vermiform Appendix: Follow-up

Author: Steven L Lee, MD, Chief, Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaiser-Permanente, Los Angeles Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Shant Shekherdimian, MD, Consulting Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Kaiser Foundation Hospital; Jeffrey J DuBois, MD, Consulting Staff, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, North Sacramento Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 24, 2008

Outcome and Prognosis

The outcome following appendectomy for acute or suppurative appendicitis is excellent. Most patients return to full activity within 2 weeks; however, when perforated appendicitis is encountered, prolonged hospitalization and additional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures may be required.

The prognosis for all stages of appendicitis is excellent, with a mortality rate of less than 1%. This low mortality rate is largely the result of early diagnosis and treatment, antibiotics, and improved anesthesia care.

Future and Controversies

Controversy continues over the most accurate, cost-effective, and rapid method of making the diagnosis of atypical appendicitis. Surgical consultation remains the most effective method of determining what additional diagnostic tools are needed.

 


More on Vermiform Appendix

Overview: Vermiform Appendix
Workup: Vermiform Appendix
Treatment: Vermiform Appendix
Follow-up: Vermiform Appendix
References
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References

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  2. Fitz RH. Perforating inflammation of the vermiform appendix; with special reference to its early diagnosis and treatment. Am J Med Sci. 1886;92:321-346.

  3. Lee SL, Walsh AJ, Ho HS. Computed tomography and ultrasonography do not improve and may delay the diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis. Arch Surg. May 2001;136(5):556-62. [Medline].

  4. Herrinton JL Jr. The vermiform appendix: its surgical history. Contemp Surg. 1991;39:36-44.

  5. Ho HS. Appendectomy. Scientific American Surgery. 1999;1-18.

  6. Lewis FR, Holcroft JW, Boey J, et al. Appendicitis. A critical review of diagnosis and treatment in 1,000 cases. Arch Surg. May 1975;110(5):677-84. [Medline].

  7. Carr NJ. The pathology of acute appendicitis. Ann Diagn Pathol. Feb 2000;4(1):46-58. [Medline].

  8. Korner H, Sondenaa K, Soreide JA, et al. Incidence of acute nonperforated and perforated appendicitis: age-specific and sex-specific analysis. World J Surg. Mar-Apr 1997;21(3):313-7. [Medline].

  9. Liu CD, McFadden DW. Acute abdomen and appendix. In: Greenfield LJ, Mulholland MW, eds. Surgery: Scientific Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1997:1246-1261.

  10. Kaminski A, Liu IL, Applebaum H, et al. Routine interval appendectomy is not justified after initial nonoperative treatment of acute appendicitis. Arch Surg. Sep 2005;140(9):897-901. [Medline].

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  13. Ford RD, Passinault WJ, Morse ME, et al. Diagnostic ultrasound for suspected appendicitis: does the added cost produce a better outcome?. Am Surg. Nov 1994;60(11):895-8. [Medline].

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  15. Rao PM, Rhea JT, Novelline RA, et al. Effect of computed tomography of the appendix on treatment of patients and use of hospital resources. N Engl J Med. Jan 15 1998;338(3):141-6. [Medline].

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  17. Malone AJ Jr, Wolf CR, Malmed AS, et al. Diagnosis of acute appendicitis: value of unenhanced CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol. Apr 1993;160(4):763-6. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

vermiform appendix, acute appendicitis, suppurative appendicitis, gangrenous appendicitis, perforated appendicitis, lymphoid hyperplasia, fecaliths, fecal stasis

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Steven L Lee, MD, Chief, Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaiser-Permanente, Los Angeles Medical Center
Steven L Lee, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Surgeons, American Pediatric Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Shant Shekherdimian, MD, Consulting Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Kaiser Foundation Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey J DuBois, MD, Consulting Staff, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, North Sacramento Medical Center
Jeffrey J DuBois, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Surgeons, American Pediatric Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, California Medical Association, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and Society of Critical Care Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Brian James Daley, MD, MBA, FACS, Associate Program Director, Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical Care, University of Tennessee School of Medicine
Brian James Daley, MD, MBA, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Association for Surgical Education, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Shock Society, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Southeastern Surgical Congress, and Tennessee Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

David Chelmow, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine; Program Director, Tufts University Affiliated Hospitals OB/GYN Residency Program; Chair, Tufts University Health Sciences Campus Institutional Review Board
David Chelmow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and Society for Medical Decision Making
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Frederick B Gaupp, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Family Practice, Hancock Medical Center
Frederick B Gaupp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA, Vice Chairman, Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Gastrointestinal Medicine and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Director of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital
John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Physiological Society, American Society of Nephrology, Association for Academic Surgery, International Society of Nephrology, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
Disclosure: AMGEN Royalty Other; AstraZeneca Grant/research funds Other

 
 
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