Clinicopathological presentation and management outcome of appendicitis in Gombe, north-east Nigeria: A 7-year retrospective audit

Abstract

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common cause of acute abdomen and right iliac fossa pain in the study centre with attendant negative appendicectomies.

Aim: To study the demographic pattern,aetiology,clinical presentation and management outcome of appendicitis.

Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out on patients, who had appendicectomies between January 2007 and December 2014.A total of two hundred and thirteen (213) cases were operated during the study period. Only one hundred and forty one (141) folders retrieved. Relevant clinical information were entered in to a proforma designed for the study. Statistical analysis was done using Epi info (version 3.5.1). Quantitative data were presented in frequencies and percentages,mean and standard deviations were calculated.

Result: Out of the 141 patients, 55(39.0%) were males while 86(61.0%) were females giving a M:F= 1: 1.6 .Their ages range from 8 to 65 years .The peak age group was 21-30 years.Acute inflammation was seen in 69 (48.9%) patients,lymphoid hyperplasia in 39 (27.7%) patients while parasitic appendicitis was seen in one (0.7%) patient. Post-operative complications observed include surgical site infection in 7 (5.0%) patients, delayed wound healing in 11( 7.8%) patients and enterocutaneous fistula in one( 0.7%) patient.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of appendicitis still rests on the pillars of thorough clinical evaluation.The judicious use of modern diagnostic equipment will reduce the rate of negative appendicectomies.

Keywords: Appendicitis,demography,aetiology,management outcome