cute Appendicits: Still a Missed Diagnosis in El Obeid, Western Sudan

Abstract

Patients and Methods: One hundred and one patients with appendicitis were admitted to the emergency wards of the
University Surgical Unit in El Obeid Teaching Hospital, Western Sudan during the period from July 2005 to June
2006. There were 64 males and 37 females.
Results: The mean age was 20.8 years ± S.D. 12.8. 34 patients had appendicular mass, four patients had appendicular
abscess and five patients had generalized peritonitis presenting with acute abdomen. Out of the 58 patients admitted as
acute appendicitis, 15 patients were found to have perforated appendices at operation and the rest inflamed
oedematous appendices, with a negative appendicectomy rate of zero per cent.
Conclusion: These findings reflect the poor awareness about acute appendicitis and its seriousness in this area. It is the
problem of late diagnosis rather than late presentation as all patients were misdiagnosed and put under treatment for
other medical conditions before being admitted to the surgical wards

Sudan Joural of Medical Studies Vol. 2 (1) 2007: pp. 7-8