Abstract

PADRON ARREDONDO, Guillermo. Appendicitis and appendectomy in children. Prevalence in a second level hospital. Cir. gen [online]. 2014, vol.36, n.2, pp.82-86. ISSN 1405-0099.

Background. Acute abdominal diseases in children are a frequent presentation and diagnosis and treatment are different from that in adults. Being aware of abdominal disorders in children can make management easy and surgical resolution is the cornerstone for most cases.

Material and methods. A retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients undergoing surgery for appendicitis in a period of 3.5 years was performed. We investigated, among other things, age of onset, days of hospital stay, time of evolution and morbidity. Results. During the study period, 166 patients were operated; male sex predominated (2:1); the average age was 5 to 14 years and had the highest frequency (75%); the months with the highest incidence were March, October and December with 18 cases each; we had 17 cases (10.2%) with a diagnosis of appendicitis in children under 5 years; evolution time was between 1 to 24 hours (69%); 10-20000 leukocyte counts were between 10,000 and 20,000 in 73% of the cases; hospital stay was between 1-3 days in 55% of the children. We had only thirteen postoperative complications.

Conclusion. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis in childhood is more diffi cult and in children under fi ve there is more diagnostic failure. In our Hospital, we perform more frequently early surgery. We found a high prevalence of resistance to E. coli, so we insist on conducting routine culture of purulent material.

Keywords : Pediatric; Appendicitis; Appendectomy; Incidence.