TO CUT OR NOT TO CUT. ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN ADULT, PREGNANT AND PEDIATRIC POPULATIONS. REVIEW

Dorota Maria Komuńska; Natalia Bukała; Dominika Kondyjowska; Weronika Tomasiczek; Sylwia Tomasiczek; Zuzanna Sawiec; Ewa Antonowicz; Marta Rogozińska

doi:10.31435/ijitss.4(48).2025.4300

Authors

Dorota Maria Komuńska Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital in Kraków, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8919-0557
Natalia Bukała University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1617-3487
Dominika Kondyjowska Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital in Kraków, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1458-9284
Weronika Tomasiczek Gabriel Narutowicz Municipal Specialist Hospital in Kraków, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3466-0386
Sylwia Tomasiczek Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital in Kraków, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4214-8454
Zuzanna Sawiec Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital in Kraków, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3237-4029
Ewa Antonowicz Independent Public Health Care Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Kraków, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6229-8389
Marta Rogozińska Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital in Kraków, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7445-1128

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.4(48).2025.4300

Keywords:

Acute Appendicitis, Appendectomy, Pregnancy, Pediatric Population, Adults, Antibiotics

Abstract

Background. Acute appendicitis is one of the most common and routinely performed emergency surgeries in a wide range of populations. Appendectomy is commonly considered as the one and only solution for acute appendicitis

Research objective. This review aims to raise awareness on different approaches to treating acute appendicitis, comparing antibiotics and surgery treatment strategies.

Material and methods. We searched PubMed and ReaserchGate databases, as well as current editions of renowned surgery textbooks for systematic reviews, articles, studies and meta-analyses surrounding the topic of treatment strategies and their complications for acute appendicitis in different populations.

Results. In the adult population a higher success rate for surgical treatment was reported (82,3%) than the antibiotic one (67,2%). Antibiotic use in the pregnant population was associated with a lower rate of preterm deliveries, but an increased rate of infectious complications due to suspected immunological changes during pregnancy. In children, antibiotic treatment was associated with a 90,5% treatment success rate with histopathologically confirmed recurrence rate during the 1 year follow up of 16,1%.

Conclusions. Surgery treatment offers a higher rate of treatment success than antibiotic management and lower recurrence rate. Conservative treatment may be more beneficial than surgery to specific groups of patients under the condition of confirmed uncomplicated appendicitis.

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