Acute appendicitis at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin city

Abstract

Background: Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical abdominal emergency worldwide. The diagnosis is mainly clinical and the treatment of choice is appendicectomy. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the clinical features, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes in patients with acute appendicitis. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study carried out over a year period from September 2009 to August 2010 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. All consenting and consecutive adult patients from the age of 18 years and above with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis were recruited. Demographic, clinical features, treatments, and outcomes were noted and entered into a pro forma and later analyzed using SPSS 16 version. Results: Acute appendicitis was preoperatively diagnosed in 86 patients but confirmed in 71 patients on histology. Twenty-nine were male, while 57 were female with a mean age of 28.36 ± 10.40 years. The most common age range affected was 21–30 years. All the patients had appendicectomy. Fifteen patients had a negative histology, of which two were male, while 13 were female, with an overall negative appendicectomy rate of 17%. All the patients were well and discharged. Conclusion: Acute appendicitis occurred most commonly in the age range of 21–30 years. Females accounted for a higher number of acute appendicitis, although negative appendicectomy rate was higher in them. The overall outcome was good.