Unnecessary Appendectomies

Conventional medical wisdom holds that if you develop appendicitis, you have to be whisked into surgery to remove your troublesome appendix before it bursts. New research suggests that all those emergency operations - some 280,000 per year - may not be necessary. The investigators looked at appendicitis trends from 1970 to 2006 to reach their conclusion. They found that evidence from sailors at sea (where appendectomies can't be done) and youngsters in children's hospitals (where emergency surgery isn't always available) suggest that rushing patients into the operating room may not be necessary in many cases and that appendicitis may often resolve without surgery. That's not to say that you don't need to see a doctor if you develop symptoms: pain and tenderness in the abdomen that begins as vague discomfort around the navel and then moves to the lower right and becomes more intense. The study also found that appendicitis tends to be seasonal, suggesting that it may be caused by a virus (the researchers ruled out flu, several intestinal viruses and several other common infections). The study, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, was published in the January, 2010, issue of the Archives of Surgery.

My take? This is an interesting and provocative study. The appendix remains somewhat of a medical mystery; although considered by many to be part of the immune system, its exact purpose isn't clear. One interesting theory holds that it may produce "good" intestinal bacteria that help keep disease in check. As this new study shows, we still have a lot to learn about the appendix and what to do if it causes trouble. Until we know more, don't take any chances - if your appendix acts up, be sure to see a doctor promptly.