Introduction.

Acute appendicitis is a frequent surgical emergency, in which conservative antibiotic-based treatment has been identified as a therapeutic option that needs further study. The objective of this study is to determine the differences in safety and efficacy of the use of antibiotics compared to appendectomy in uncomplicated appendicitis in adults.

Methods.

Systematic review and meta-analysis; 452 studies were found; 45 were evaluated in full text, 15 were evaluated in methodological quality; 11 studies were selected and nine meta-analysed.

Results.

There were 3186 participants, of whom 1512 were treated with antibiotic therapy and 1674 underwent appendectomy. Shorter stays are identified in patients undergoing appendectomy (SMD: 0.28 CI 95% 0.14 to 0.41). It was evidenced for patients treated with antibiotic therapy lower risk scores in the appendicitis diagnostic scales (SMD: -0.13; CI 95%: -0.22 to -0.04), in 16% less therapeutic success (RR: 0.84; CI 95%: 0.77 to 0.92) and a reduction in the risk of complications of 63% (RR: 0.37, CI 95%: 0.25 to 0.53). High heterogeneity and risk of publication bias were reported.

Conclusions.

Antibiotic therapy needs more evidence for outcomes such as quality of life, satisfaction, pain, specific complications, among others; that allow for more compelling comparisons. Patients who consider the conservative approach need to be adequately advised and monitored to optimize their chances of favorable results and the timely identification of complications that require other approaches.

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