Case report shows antibiotic therapy may manage acute appendicitis in patients facing anesthetic difficulties, highlighting treatment alternatives.
Appendectomy is the gold standard treatment for acute appendicitis; however, antibiotic therapy can be an effective alternative to appendectomy in the management of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. A 42-year-old man with a medical history of dwarfism, thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis, and trismus presented with isolated pain in the right iliac fossa (RIF). Clinical examination revealed normal temperature with localized guarding in the RIF. Inflammatory markers were moderately elevated. Abdominopelvic ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Due to anticipated anesthetic difficulties and the potential need for tracheostomy, which the patient declined, a conservative medical treatment approach was chosen after obtaining informed consent. Although appendectomy remains the reference treatment for acute appendicitis, antibiotic therapy is particularly indicated in the management of complex clinical situations where surgical intervention poses significant risks.
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REMACHE et al. (2025) studied this question.
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