Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Perforated Appendicitis and Postoperative Antibiotics Pilot Trial

100 participantsStarted 2026-08-01

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if not giving antibiotics is as effective as giving antibiotics after surgery for patients who have surgery for a perforated (burst) appendix. This pilot study will also help determine whether a larger, multi-centre study can be successfully conducted. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do patients who do not receive antibiotics after surgery have similar rates of infection after surgery as patients who do? * Is it feasible to enroll and randomize patients and collect complete health data for a larger multi-centre study? Researchers will compare patients who do not receive antibiotics after surgery to patients who do to see whether avoiding antibiotics is as effective as using antibiotics for preventing infections after surgery. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either receive or not receive antibiotics after surgery for their perforated (burst) appendix. * Be contacted 30 and 90 days after surgery to check for infections and other health outcomes.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years or older * Scheduled to undergo an open or laparoscopic appendectomy * Complicated appendicitis confirmed intra-operatively (AAST Appendicitis Grade III or IV) Exclusion Criteria: * Patients demonstrating signs of septic shock for whom the omission of systemic antibiotics is contraindicated * Patients with positive blood cultures for whom antibiotics are required for treatment of the bacteremia * Immunosuppressed patients * AAST Appendicitis Grade V

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Average number of participants enrolled per month across multiple sites.

Timeframe: First to last day of each month of recruitment phase (1 year).

Percentage of participants who receive the correct intervention.

Timeframe: From beginning to end of recruitment phase (1 year).

Percentage of patient-reported outcomes collected.

Timeframe: Duration of the study (1 year). For each participant, data collected 30 and 90 days after surgery.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07656636

SponsorLondon Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-09-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Perforated Appendicitis trials