From April 1979 to March 1985, 538 patients underwent surgical inversion and 156 excision of a noninflammatory appendix. Early postoperative morbidity comprised 0.7% light and 0.3% severe complications after inversion vs. 5.7% light and 2.5% severe complications after excision, late morbidity, 2.3% light vs. 5.5% light and 0.9% severe complications, respectively. As elucidated by comparison with data reported from the pertinent literature and statistical evaluation, inversion was proven to be superior to classic excision in terms of early and late complication rate.