What question did this study set out to answer?

To compare health care costs associated with operative versus nonoperative management of uncomplicated appendicitis.

June 3, 2026Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Health care costs after operative versus nonoperative appendicitis management utilizing an administrative claims database

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Authors

PMPawan J. MathewBridgeport Hospital MMMiranda MooreYale University BBBishwajit BhattacharyaYale University

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Implication

Randomized trial evaluates health care costs in uncomplicated appendicitis management, suggesting nonoperative strategy may be more expensive over time.

Key Points

To compare health care costs associated with operative versus nonoperative management of uncomplicated appendicitis.
Utilized MarketScan database to extract data from patients diagnosed with uncomplicated appendicitis between 2017 and 2021.
Analyzed costs from initial emergency department encounters and within one year post-diagnosis.
Compared median costs of appendectomy and nonoperative treatments.
Operative group had a median index cost of $15,248, while the nonoperative group had $5,753 (p < 0.001).
Follow-up costs were higher in the nonoperative group at $3,946 compared to $3,338 in the operative group (p = 0.003).
If nonoperative management fails more than 32% of the time, it becomes more costly than operative management.

Cite This Study

Mathew et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a1fc4e4dee9eb8c0dce65d8 https://doi.org/10.1097/ta.0000000000005082

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Implication

Randomized trial evaluates health care costs in uncomplicated appendicitis management, suggesting nonoperative strategy may be more expensive over time.

Health care costs after operative versus nonoperative appendicitis management utilizing an administrative claims database

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Health care costs after operative versus nonoperative appendicitis management utilizing an administrative claims database

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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