van Dijk ST, et al. - Researchers analyzed data from studies including patients who underwent appendicectomy for acute appendicitis, to evaluate in-hospital delay before surgery as a risk factor for complicated appendicitis and postoperative morbidity in patients with acute appendicitis. The studies were identified from PubMed and EMBASE, and reported in two or more predefined time intervals, with the main focus on complicated appendicitis after surgery (perforated or gangrenous appendicitis). Postoperative surgical-site infection and morbidity were also addressed. They found that delaying appendicectomy for presumed uncomplicated appendicitis for up to 24 h after admission did not appear to confer risk for complicated appendicitis, postoperative surgical-site infection or morbidity. For patients with no preoperative signs of complicated appendicitis, delaying appendicectomy for up to 24 h was suggested as an acceptable alternative.