[Delay in hospitalization, diagnosis and surgical intervention in acute appendicitis].
OBJECTIVE
To assess if self-medication delays diagnosis and Surgical Treatment in acute appendicitis and increases morbidity, mortality and hospital stay as well.


METHODS
Retrospective, comparative and observational study.


METHODS
Chi square, exact Fisher test. SUBJECTS AND STUDY GROUPS: 57 patients were subjected to appendectomy and were stratified in three groups according to the lapse of time between initiation of symptoms and hospitalization: group A less than 24 h (n = 20), group B between 24 and 48 h (n = 17), and group C more than 48 h (n = 20).


RESULTS
Groups B and C showed a significant delay for both diagnosis (p < 0.001) and surgical intervention (p < 0.001) in relation to group A. The incidence of acute abdomen presentation showed a positive trend with time of hospitalization (p = 0.03). Self-medication increased from group A to C (p < 0.001). Groups B and C showed a complication rate of 24 and 25%, respectively (p > 0.05). Conversely, group A had not complications (p < 0.05). In addition there was a 5% mortality due to sepsis in group C. Finally, hospital stay was longer in groups B and C (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Self-medication correlated with delayed hospitalization, diagnosis, treatment and complications. Hospital stay was consequently longer.
Martínez-De Jesús
F R
FR
División de Cirugía, Centro Médico Nacional de Veracruz Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
Gallardo Hernández
R
R
Morales Guzmán
M
M
Péres Morales
A G
AG
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012651:Self Medication; D013997:Time Factors
Retardo en la hospitalización, el diagnóstico y la intervención quirúrgica de la apendicitis aguda.