Surgical management of acute appendicitis: comparison between laparoscopic appendectomy and conservative management with antibiotics

Abstract Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies in medical practice. Laparoscopic appendectomy has been the standard treatment for decades, but recently the use of antibiotics has been explored as a non-surgical alternative in selected cases. Recent studies suggest that up to 70% of patients treated with antibiotics can avoid surgery in the short term, although the risk of recurrence remains a limitation. Laparoscopy, on the other hand, remains the option with the lowest risk of long-term complications and shorter recovery times. This review analyses the efficacy and safety of both approaches, providing critical insight into when conservative management is feasible and in which cases surgery remains the best option. Keywords: Acute appendicitis, laparoscopic surgery, conservative management, antibiotics, recurrence.