Cost-effectiveness of appendectomy for abscessed appendicitis

Editor's Note

Appendectomy is cost-effective for abscessed appendicitis in patients less than 34 years old, this study finds.

For an 18-year-old patient, appendectomy costs $9,417.22 with a gain of 16.59 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), compared with no appendectomy, which costs $11,613.57 with a gain of 16.52 QALYs.

For a 35-year-old patient, appendectomy costs $8,989.16 with 9.1 QALYs, compared with no appendectomy costs of $6,614.61 and 9.09 QALYs gained.

As patient age increases the cost-effectiveness ratio increases, and appendectomy remains cost-effective until the patient is 33-years-old, the authors say.

Patients with phlegmonous appendicitis can be managed nonoperatively, yet debate continues regarding the need for interval appendectomy (IA), given the low risk of recurrence or neoplasm. We sought to determine for which patient age interval appendectomy is cost-effective.