Evidence
This page contains a snapshot of featured content which highlights evidence addressing key clinical questions including areas of uncertainty. Please see the main topic reference list for details of all sources underpinning this topic.
BMJ Best Practice evidence tables
Evidence tables provide easily navigated layers of evidence in the context of specific clinical questions, using GRADE and a BMJ Best Practice Effectiveness rating. Follow the links at the bottom of the table, which go to the related evidence score in the main topic text, providing additional context for the clinical question. Find out more about our evidence tables.
This table is a summary of the analysis reported in a Cochrane Clinical Answer that focuses on the above important clinical question.
Confidence in the evidence is moderate or low to moderate where GRADE has been performed and the intervention may be more effective/beneficial than the comparison for key outcomes.
Population: Adults and adolescents with suspected appendicitis
Intervention: Laparoscopic appendectomy
Comparison: Conventional appendectomy (open surgery, most using a McBurney/muscle-splitting method)
| Outcome | Effectiveness (BMJ rating)? | Confidence in evidence (GRADE)? |
|---|---|---|
Wound infections (time point unclear) | Favours intervention | Moderate |
Intra‐abdominal abscess (follow‐up range from hospital discharge to 1 year) | Favours comparison | Moderate |
Pain intensity on day 1 postoperatively | Favours intervention | Low |
Length of hospital stay | Favours intervention | Low |
Time until return to normal activity | Favours intervention | Low |
Note The Cochrane Clinical Answer (CCA) notes that intra-abdominal abscesses are more likely to occur with laparoscopic surgery, but also notes that the Cochrane reviewers did not stratify this in relation to the pathology of the appendix, resulting in some uncertainty as to which approach is preferable in patients with complicated appendicitis.
This evidence table is related to the following section/s:
Cochrane Clinical Answers
Cochrane Clinical Answers (CCAs) provide a readable, digestible, clinically focused entry point to rigorous research from Cochrane systematic reviews. They are designed to be actionable and to inform decision making at the point of care and have been added to relevant sections of the main Best Practice text.
- For adults and adolescents with suspected appendicitis, how does laparoscopic appendectomy compare with conventional appendectomy?
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