Patient Perspectives on Appendicitis Treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient Perspectives on Shared Decision Making in Appendicitis Treatment Following COVID-19
IRAS ID
297069
Contact name
James Ashcroft
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & The University of Cambridge,
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix. The appendix is a small, thin pouch about 5 to 10cm long. It's connected to the large intestine, where poo forms. Nobody knows exactly what the appendix does, but removing it is not harmful. Antibiotics, Computed Tomography (CT) scans, and surgery have been used together to treat appendicitis for a long time. Now the use of CT scans and antibiotics without surgery are being trialled as a new treatment for appendicitis. Recent advances in diagnostic imaging such as CT scans means it is now easier to diagnose appendicitis or to rule out appendicitis. However, imaging using CT scans does carry some risks such as exposure to radiation. New research trials have also found that there are other options to treat appendicitis, such as to watch and wait with clinic appointments or to treat with antibiotics, which have benefits in avoiding unnecessary surgery but have other associated risks. Multi-centre trials have now established safety in other options to treat appendicitis, such as to watch and wait with clinic appointments or to treat with antibiotics, which have benefits in avoiding unnecessary surgery but have other associated risks such as recurrence. Currently, we follow the traditional routine surgery route for appendicitis, and we do not know how people feel about different treatment options and pathways available. Finally during the peak of COVID-19 between March 2020 – August 2020, our routine treatment of appendicitis changed and we opted for the use of CT imaging and antibiotic therapy in order to avoid surgery in the context of increased risk of COVID-19 transmission. The aim of this study is to establish whether new treatment strategies as alternatives to routine surgery are acceptable to our patient cohort.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0329
Date of REC Opinion
23 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion