Readmissions to hospital ater appendicectomy for non-specific abdominal pain

Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain, but in ten per cent of appendicectomies the appendix is normal. Follow up of 54 patients having a normal appendix removed reveals that in only two cases was a physical diagnosis missed and yet these patients were more likely to be readmitted with suicidal behaviour or further unexplained pain than patients who had an inflamed appendix removed. Psychological factors may be of aetiological importance in patients having a normal appendix removed, and although none of these patients had multiple admissions or further abdominal surgery it is suggested that patients be told that their appendix was normal.