The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

A randomized trial comparing antibiotics with appendectomy for appendicitis. N Engl J Med 2020; 383: 1907-1919.

Published: 19th March 2021

Authors: The CODA Collaborative

Conclusion

Of 1552 patients with appendicitis, 776 were randomized to receive antibiotics (47% treated as an outpatient). At 30 days, antibiotic treatment was non-inferior to surgery based on EQ-5D scores. In those who had antibiotics, 29 per cent had undergone appendicectomy within 90 days: 41 per cent of those with an appendicolith and 29 per cent without. Serious adverse event rates were similar.

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