Routine appendectomy in extensive gynecologic operations

Based upon past clinical experience, a policy was established in a teaching service to remove the appendix whenever encountered during extensive gynecologic operations. Retrospectively, all patients operated upon during the subsequent 54 month period were reviewed to determine the success of instituting the policy of mandatory elective appendectomy and to assess the pathologic findings. We found that 93 per cent of the time the policy was followed and appendectomy performed. Definite pathologic findings were found in 14.6 per cent of the specimens and equivocal pathologic findings in an additional 14 per cent. No procedure related morbidity occurred. The incidence of metastasis to the appendix from specific gynecologic malignant diseases is discussed herein.