Authors:

Nkomba C Kalenga

Department of Surgery, Grey�s Hospital, South Africa

Abstract:

Introduction:Acute appendicitis most likely has multiple causes, and if the illness worsens, perforation could happen.The preferred course of treatment is appendicectomy, which is increasingly being carried out laparoscopically.
Objectives:To ascertain the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, the most often used surgical technique, the frequency of inaccurate diagnoses, and the relationship between age and gender and perforated appendicitis.
Methods:196 patients at Grey's Hospital who had an appendix diagnosis within an 18-month period had their medical records reviewed retrospectively. Information was gathered regarding histological results, problems, surgical technique, and demographics.
Results:The mean age of the 196 patients was 21.1 years, with 54% having perforations, and the frequency of severe appendicitis peaked at the oldest ages. There were three different surgical techniques used: laparoscopy (10.7%), Lanz incision (27.6%), and midline laparotomy (61.7%). In 1.5% and 0.84% of instances, respectively, bowel resection with primary anastomosis and stoma creation was performed; in 3.6% of cases, the abdomen was left open. While laparotomy was performed for suspected perforated appendicitis, non-perforated appendicitis was discovered intraoperatively in a limited number of patients who underwent midline laparotomy. In a small number of carefully chosen patients of non-perforated appendicitis, laparoscopic surgery was employed. 9.7% was the total rate of post-operative ICU hospitalization.
Conclusion:Appendicitis with a perforation was present in most instances. Despite the accompanying morbidities, midline laparotomy was the most recommended surgical method. In this tertiary healthcare facility, laparoscopy was the least used technique.

Keywords:
Appendicectomy; Appendicitis; Perforated appendix; Surgical approach; Tertiary Hospital.

Citation:

Nkomba C Kalenga. A tertiary hospital's approach to appendicectomies: the illness picture and surgical techniques at Grey's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.. World Journal of Clinical Surgery 2023.