Safe and Feasible Time Limit for Early Appendectomy in Appendiceal Mass

Background Early appendectomy in appendiceal mass is gaining popularity among some surgeons. However, it is endowed with increasing operative difficulty with time, and safe and feasible timing is not yet clear. Objective To know safe and feasible time limit for early appendectomy in appendiceal mass. Method This is a retrospective study. Between May 2009 and July 2014, 114 patients of appendiceal mass who underwent early surgical intervention by a single surgeon were studied. Group I included 98 patients operated within seven days of onset of pain and group II included 16 patients operated between 8th and 15 days of pain. Type of operative procedure, difficulties and complications were analyzed. Result There were 58 men and 56 women. Their mean age was 24.27 ± 8.7 years. In group I, 98 (100%) patients had appendectomy and adhesiolysis was safe and feasible. In group II, 5(31.25%) patients had extra-peritoneal drainage of abscess without attempt for appendectomy. Remaining 11 patients had attempt for appendectomy, but only 3(18.75%) out of 4 patients operated on the 8th day could have appendectomy. Six (37.5%) patients had just drainage of abscess. Two (12.5%) patients, operated on the 12th and 15th days of pain had just open-closed due to dense adhesion and both resolved. One patient operated on the 10th day sustained ileal injury. Surgical site infection occurred in 16.6% (14 in 86) in group I and 33.3% (5 in 15) in group B (P= 0.001). Mean operative time was 34.4 ± 9.23 minutes and 43.7 ± 16.38 minutes for group I and group II respectively. Mean hospital stay after surgery was 2.9 ± 1.1 days and 5.5 ± 1.37 days in group I and group II respectively. Conclusion Early appendectomy in appendiceal mass seems safe and feasible up to 7th day since onset of pain in my experience. However, this limit may vary with surgeon's experience, and further studies are required to better clarify this issue.