Pattern of Clinical Presentation, Risk Factors and Outcome of Patients with Perforated Appendicitis

Ainnan Memon, Mazhar Iqbal, Arooba Zahid, Amber Afaque, M. Naeem Khan, Dileep Kumar

Abstract

Objective

To determine the mode of presentation of patients with perforated appendicitis, the risk factors and outcome after emergency appendectomy.

Study design

Cross sectional study..

Place & Duration of study

Department of Surgery Ward 2, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Karachi, from March 2022 to March 2023.

Methods

All patients who presented with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis were included. Clinical presentation, the risk factors and operative findings were noted. The histopathology reports were analyzed for confirming the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Data were entered into SPSS version 20. Quantitative data were presented as mean and standard deviations and qualitative data were reported in frequencies and percentages. Post stratification Chi square test / Fischer test was applied. A p value <0.05 was taken as significant.

Results

A total of 126 patients had appendectomy for acute appendicitis. There were 67 (53.17%) male and 59 (46.83%) female patients. The age was between 29 years to 70 years, with the mean age of 47.14±16.49 years. Twenty-two (17.5%) patients had perforated appendicitis. Mean duration of surgery was 2.72±1.58 hours and hospital stay 4.72±3.24 days. The mean BMI was 27.41±2.56 kg/m2. Post stratification data analysis showed that age (p=0.01) and anemia (p=0.01) had statistically significant association with perforated appendicitis while other variables like gender, patient delay, in-hospital delay and comorbid conditions had no significant relationship.

Conclusion

Perforation of appendix was more often reported in younger age group and in those with preexisting anemia.

Key words

Perforated appendicitis, Acute appendicitis, Emergency appendectomy, Risk factors.