Appendectomy News and Research

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An appendicectomy (or appendectomy) is the surgical removal of the vermiform appendix. This procedure is normally performed as an emergency procedure, when the patient is suffering from acute appendicitis. In the absence of surgical facilities, intravenous antibiotics are used to delay or avoid the onset of sepsis; it is now recognized that many cases will resolve when treated non-operatively. In some cases the appendicitis resolves completely; more often, an inflammatory mass forms around the appendix. This is a relative contraindication to surgery.

Study shows appendicitis patients can be safely discharged on same day of surgery

Patients with acute appendicitis who undergo laparoscopic appendectomy do not experience higher rates of postoperative complications or costly readmissions when sent home on the same day of their operations compared with patients hospitalized overnight, according to study results published online as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website ahead of print publication.

15 Nov 2016

Study shows how comorbid mental health conditions can impact child's care in hospital

Children hospitalized for medical or surgical procedures who have an existing mental health condition stay in the hospital longer than children without these conditions.

14 Nov 2016

Novel surgical approach can help remove diseased gallbladder through single, small incision

A surgical team at UC San Diego Health has completed the first series of operations with a novel surgical system that can remove a diseased gallbladder through a single incision hidden in the belly button.

12 Oct 2016

Study shows universal health insurance may mitigate surgical disparities for African Americans

A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital utilized claims data from more than 630,000 patients living in the state of California and found no significant differences in post-operative complications or mortality between African American patients and White patients who were treated in a universally insured military health system.

9 Aug 2016

Blood utilization practice guidelines can save millions of dollars, reduce blood wastage

Improving the processes of ordering, transporting, and storing blood can save millions of dollars and drastically reduce blood wastage, reported a research team from one academic medical center after implementing institutional initiatives to address blood management.

18 Jul 2016

Rural hospitals may work well for straightforward surgeries in relatively healthy patients

They may be in small towns. They may only have a couple of surgeons. But for common operations, they may be safer and less expensive than their larger cousins, a new study finds.

18 May 2016

Pediatric surgeons who perform very few procedures after graduation may have hard time in the long run

Some pediatric surgeons perform so few rare and complex procedures once they finish their surgical training that they may have a hard time maintaining operative skills in the long run, according to a new study led by researchers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

31 Mar 2016

Antibiotic treatment for mild appendicitis does not increase risk for complications

Using antibiotics as the primary treatment for mild appendicitis does not increase the risk for complications at least in the first year. But other considerations must also be taken into account, say researchers.

19 Mar 2016

Study examines effect of nonoperative treatment for appendicitis

It is too early to change the standard treatment of appendicitis in U.S. adults to initial antibiotic therapy only, rather than surgical removal of the appendix, or appendectomy, authors of a new systematic review study conclude.

18 Dec 2015

New Cleveland Clinic study shows bariatric surgery is safe option for managing type 2 diabetes in overweight or mildly obese patients

Weight-loss surgery, long considered a treatment largely reserved for people with severe obesity, may also be a good and safe option for the treatment of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes in those who are overweight or have mild to moderate obesity, according to researchers from Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

10 Nov 2015

Weight-loss surgery may be safe for managing type 2 diabetes in patients with mild obesity

6 Nov 2015

NanoString Technologies will donate to honor cancer survivors featured in its newest campaign

To honor six cancer survivors featured in its newest international ad campaign, NanoString Technologies, Inc. will donate $6,000 to the American Cancer Society. The “Dear Cancer Researcher” participants courageously shared their personal stories of triumph to help the biotechnology company launch its newest product, nCounter SPRINT™ Profiler, a system that gives researchers the tools and opportunity to think beyond current everyday practice.

From NanoString Technologies 9 Oct 2015

Study finds significant decline in CT usage at children's hospitals for common childhood diagnoses

A study published online Aug. 24 by the journal Pediatrics finds a significant decrease in the use of computed tomography (CT) scans at children's hospitals for 10 common childhood diagnoses including seizure, concussion, appendectomy and upper respiratory tract infection.

24 Aug 2015

Antibiotic treatment not better than appendectomy for uncomplicated acute appendicitis

Among patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, antibiotic treatment did not meet a prespecified level of effectiveness compared with appendectomy, although most patients who received antibiotic therapy did not require an appendectomy, and for those who did, they did not experience significant complications, according to a study in the June 16 issue of JAMA.

17 Jun 2015

WHO report: Percentage of obese population set to rise in European nations

Although the dangers of obesity have become increasingly clear in recent years, new research from the World Health Organization suggests that the number of people who are obese around the world will only increase. The most recent report analyzed all of the European nations and concluded that the percentage of obese citizens is set to rise in nearly every country.

28 May 2015

Controlling acute and chronic pain in women

Despite the variety of effective treatments, and physicians who specialize in treating pain, women often suffer unnecessarily from conditions ranging from backaches to pain after cancer surgery, and also treat their pain with medications that may be ineffective and possibly harmful, according to a review of research related to women and pain by the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

20 Jan 2015

Surgical treatment of obesity, diabetes as safe as other commonly performed surgical procedures

Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes, once considered a high-risk procedure, carries a complication and mortality rate comparable to some of the safest and most commonly performed surgeries in America, including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, and total knee replacement, according to new research from the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute.

7 Nov 2014

Covidien expands Sonicision Cordless Ultrasonic Dissection Device portfolio

Covidien plc today announced the expansion of its Sonicision Cordless Ultrasonic Dissection Device portfolio, following U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance of three additional device lengths: 13 cm, 26 cm, and 48 cm.

19 Sep 2014

New algorithm eliminates exposure to radiation when diagnosing children with acute appendicitis

Implementation of an algorithm aimed to diagnose pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis reduces the utilization of computed tomography (CT) scans, without affecting diagnostic accuracy, Mayo Clinic Children's Center researchers have found. The study was recently published in the journal Surgery.

1 Aug 2014

Use of minimally invasive surgery varies widely across US hospitals

Hospitals across the country vary substantially in their use of minimally invasive surgery, even when evidence shows that for most patients, minimally invasive surgery is superior to open surgery, a new study shows. The finding represents a major disparity in the surgical care delivered at various hospitals, the study's authors say, and identifies an area of medicine ripe for improvement.

9 Jul 2014