title: [Acute appendicitis. Analysis of surgical indications].
abstract: We analyzed 276 patients operated on for acute appendicitis between January 1995 and June 1997. In 26 patients intraoperative assessment revealed a pathological finding other than appendicitis. Fifty-nine patients (24%) had a perforated appendix, 116 acute appendicitis verified by histological examination, 75 (30%) chronic fibroplastic appendicitis or no signs of appendicitis. Patients with histologically acute inflammation fulfilled more clinical criteria of appendicitis than those without (5.1 vs. 3.7). Negative histological findings were most common in younger females admitted on Mondays and Tuesdays. Clinical observation rather than immediate operation and laparoscopy rather than laparotomy appear appropriate for the latter group and may lower the rate of negative appendectomy.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Allgemein-, Gefäss- und Thoraxchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Berlin.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahrau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Foitzik
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klinnert
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Buhr
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data