Experimental: Surgery

Patients who choose operations will have surgery performed to remove the appendix laparoscopically, through 3 or 4 small incisions. All patients in the operative group will receive standard perioperative antibiotics. They will also have the abscess(es) drained during the same surgery if there is one present. In some cases, the operation may be too difficult to perform laparoscopically, so an open appendectomy will be performed, involving a longer incision to remove the appendix. In some cases, both laparoscopic and open are performed. The surgeon may also choose to remove a section of the intestine with the appendix or perform additional procedures.

Active_comparator: Non-operative management

If a patient chooses non-operative management and if an abscess is present and amenable to percutaneous drainage this will be performed. If there is no abscess or it is not amenable to drainage antibiotics alone will be provided.