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Tropical surgical abdominal emergencies: acute appendicitis
1Department of Surgery, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine
|April 1, 1989
Summary
This study on acute appendicitis in 603 patients found it is a common surgical emergency, with most cases presenting late. Treatment outcomes were favorable despite limited resources.
Area of Science:
- General Surgery
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Acute appendicitis is a frequent surgical emergency.
- Understanding its epidemiology and clinical presentation is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics, presentation patterns, and treatment outcomes of acute appendicitis.
- To assess the incidence and severity of acute appendicitis in a large patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 603 consecutive patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis over five years.
- Data collection included patient demographics, symptom onset, clinical findings, laboratory results (white cell count), radiological findings, operative findings, and surgical outcomes.
- Analysis of treatment outcomes and complications, including wound infection and operative mortality.
Main Results:
- A female predominance was observed (64.3% female vs. 35.7% male).
- Patients presented late, with a median of 5 days from symptom onset, predominantly reporting abdominal pain.
- Operative findings revealed acute inflammation in 70%, gangrene or perforation in 20%, and appendix abscess in 3%. No operative deaths occurred, with a 3% rate of wound infection.
Conclusions:
- Acute appendicitis remains a significant surgical emergency with a notable female predilection.
- Delayed presentation is common, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and prompt medical attention.
- Despite resource limitations, surgical management yielded favorable outcomes comparable to developed countries.