Indications for interval appendectomy in the management of appendicular abscess

During the years 1975-1977 the diagnosis of appendicular abscess was made in 25 patients. All were first treated conservatively and scheduled for interval appendectomy at a later date. Three patients had an attack of recurrent acute appendicitis during the interval period and one of them had to be operated urgently. At operation of the latter and of those who had interval elective appendectomy, signs of previous abscess were found in 16 (64%), while in 9 patients (36%) no signs of previous abscess were found. On the basis of these figures it is our impression that interval appendectomy should not be performed routinely, but be reserved only for patients with appendicular abscess slowly responding to the Ochsner Sherren treatment, and for patients with recurrent symptoms.