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Appendicitis. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment
1Department of General Surgery, Naval Hospital, San Diego, California 92134-5000.
The American Surgeon
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Early surgical intervention for acute appendicitis yields excellent results, with high diagnostic accuracy and manageable complication rates when employing a systematic approach with antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency.
- Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimize complications.
- Varied outcomes necessitate review of therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic outcomes in suspected acute appendicitis.
- To determine diagnostic accuracy and perforation rates.
- To analyze complication rates based on appendiceal condition.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 844 consecutive appendicitis cases over 3 years.
- Analysis of diagnostic accuracy and perforation rates.
- Correlation of complication rates with clinical appendiceal status.
Main Results:
- Diagnostic accuracy achieved was 87.4%.
- Perforation rate was 18.4%.
- Complication rates: 16% (perforated), 5.6% (nonperforated), 11.3% (normal appendices).
Conclusions:
- Early operative intervention is key for excellent outcomes in acute appendicitis.
- Perioperative antibiotics and a systematic surgical approach are vital.
- Therapeutic strategies should consider the clinical state of the appendix.