Table 2 Measured outcomes from different meta-analyses comparing appendectomy versus antibiotics alone for acute uncomplicated appendicitis

Complications

0.43 (0.15, 1.21) [13]

0.11

Moderate

0.31 (0.19, 0.49) [14]

<0.05

Not present

1.92 (1.30, 2.85) [15]

N/A

Not present

0.83 (0.72, 0.91) [16]

N/A

Low

Favors antibiotics

0.54 (0.37, 0.78) [17]

0.001

Moderate

0.69 (0.54, 0.89) [18]

0.004

Not present

0.86 (0.59, 1.26) [19]

0.44

Not present

Treatment efficacy

4.54 (3.02, 6.82) [13]

<0.001

N/A

6.01 (4.27, 8.47) [15]

N/A

Not present

Favors surgery

Crosses NI margin [16]

N/A

N/A

8.89 (5.94, 13.32) [18]

<0.001

N/A

Treatment failure

6.9 % ± 4.4 % [14]

N/A

N/A

Favors surgery

6.72 (3.48, 12.99) [17]

<0.001

Moderate

Readmissions

15 % [13]

14.2 ± 10.6 % [14]

Favors surgery

20 % [18]

Complicated appendicitis

0.46 (0.19, 1.12) [18]

0.09

High

0.58 (0.18, 1.90) [18]

0.37

Moderate

Inconclusive

0.73 (0.29, 1.84) [15]

N/A

Not present

Pain/Analgesia

ATB less pain [15]

<0.001

N/A

−1.55 (−1.96, −1.14) [17]

<0.001

Not present

Favors antibiotics

−0.13 (−0.28, 0.03) [17]

0.11

Low

Length of hospital stay

0.11 (−0.22, 0.43) [13]

0.53

Moderate

0.66 (0.44, 0.87) [15]

<0.001

Low

0.34 (−0.06, 0.73) [17]

0.09

Low

Inconclusive

0.34 (−0.19, 0.87) [18]

0.20

Low

0.01 (−0.01, 0.03) [19]

0.26

High

Time to return to work

−0.19 (−0.33, −0.06) [17]

0.005

Not present

Favor antibiotics

−5.20 (−6.99, −3.40) [19]

<0.001

High