Appendectomies in patients with nephritis

A retrospective study of 150 records of patients attending a renal clinic revealed a high (10 per cent) incidence of history of appendectomy. The possibility that an acute exacerbation of pyelonephritis, especially on the right side, might be misdiagnosed in some cases as appendicitis is discussed. Acute renal failure following unnecessary appendectomy in a patient with previously unrecognized and asymptomatic chronic renal disease may occur if this possibility is not borne in mind before operating on an atypical case of appendicitis.