Publication:

Clinicopathological correlation of acute appendicitis undergoing emergency appendicectomy in a tertiary care hospital of Gujarat: a retrospective study

Background Acute appendicitis is acute inflammation and infection of the vermiform appendix, which is most commonly referred to simply as the appendix. The aim of this study was to determine the presenting pattern of acute appendicitis and to review the pathological diagnosis.

Methods This retrospective study was conducted in the general surgery department at tertiary care institute of Gujarat for the period of one year. One hundred patients who were attending department of surgery diagnosed as acute appendicitis were selected for the study. Patient demographics, clinical features, operative findings and histology results were recorded on a special patient proforma.

Results The most common presenting complaints were abdominal pain (n=100), nausea (n=54), vomiting (n=80) and diarrhoea (n=7). As for clinical signs 100% of the patients in this study had some degree of right iliac fossa tenderness. Open appendicectomy was performed in 62% of the patients and laparoscopic appendicectomy in 38% of the patients. 66% of the patients presented within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms whereas 28% presented 24-48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Conclusions Diagnosis of acute appendicitis obvious based on strongly positive clinical presentation. Present study shows that acute appendicitis in India is a disease of young males. On further sub-classification of acute appendicitis, uncomplicated acute appendicitis seems to be the most common. Delayed presentation is associated with greater morbidity.