Appendicitis: A Study of Negative Appendicectomies

Abstract

This is a fifteen-month prospective study to assess the diagnostic accuracy of appendicitis. One hundred and fifty nine patients were diagnosed on clinical basis as having acute appendicitis and subsequently had appendicectomy. 52.8% were confirmed on histology. The diagnostic error (negative appendicectomy) was 47.2%. the error was lower in males (35%) compared with females. The reason for the high negative appendicectomy in women is pelvic inflammatory diseases, which mimics acute appendicitis.


Post-operative complications were noted in 3% of the negative appendicectomy group but in the positive appendicectomy group complications were much more common particularly when the appendix was ruptured.


(Key Words: Negative appendicectomy, perforated appendix and postoperative complications.)


Sahel Med. J. Vol.6(3) 2003: 72-74