Risk of Perforation in the Era of Nonemergent Management for Acute Appendicitis

Prompt appendectomy has long been the standard of care for acute appendicitis because of the risk of progression to perforation. Recently, studies have suggested nonemergent management of acute appendicitis. Our study aimed to determine changes in risk of rupture and complications in patients with appendicitis, with increasing time from symptom onset to treatment. Retrospective study of patients aged ≥18 years presenting to the University of North Carolina Hospitals with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis who subsequently underwent appendectomy from 2011 to 2015 was performed. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and pathologic data were reviewed. Bivariate analysis was performed to assess variables associated with increased risk of perforation. Poisson regression modeling was completed to evaluate the risk of perforation and postoperative abscess based on time from symptoms to treatment. Within our database of 1007 patients, the mean time from onset of symptoms to operative intervention was 3.24 ± 2.2 days. Modified Poisson regression modeling demonstrated the relative risk for perforation increases by 9% (RR 1.09, P < 0.001) for each day delay. Age (RR 1.03), male gender (RR 1.50), temperature on admission (RR 1.32), and the presence of fecalith (RR 1.89) statistically significantly increased the risk of perforation. Furthermore, for each day delay, there is an 8% increased risk of postoperative abscess (RR 1.08, P = 0.027). The relative risk for appendiceal perforation is 9 per cent per day delay with a resultant 8 per cent increased risk of postoperative abscess. Thus, appendectomy for acute appendicitis should remain an emergent procedure, given that delays in operative management lead to complications and increases in cost of care.