The appendix stump: should it be invaginated?

In a prospective trial of 103 patients undergoing appendicectomy, one group of patients had the appendix stump treated by ligation alone and the other group underwent ligation and invagination. The two groups of patients were similar with respect to age, sex, incision and degree of inflammation of the appendix. Perforated appendices were excluded and in neither group were drains used or antibiotics given. No significant difference between the two methods of treatment of the appendix stump was noted, either with respect to wound infection or postoperative stay in hospital.