title: Prophylactic appendectomy: is it worth to be done?
abstract: There are still many controversial issues in prophylactic appendectomy. In this retrospective study, we have appraised the reasons and results of prophylactic appendectomies performed between January 1997 and August 1999. Sixty four prophylactic appendectomy cases were included in this study and all resected specimens were submitted to histopathological analysis. In 23 patients with incisional hernias, a prophylactic appendectomy was performed as, in the future, dense adhesions may lead to difficult appendectomy. Additional appendectomy had no negative effect on perioperative complications, compared with the patients without appendectomies. In conclusion, in the presence of optimal conditions, prophylactic appendectomy can be performed safely.
authors.affiliation: Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Afyon, Turkey. ondilek@aku.edu.tr
authors.forename: O N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Dilek
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Demirtas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altindis
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Dilek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozgören
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D001706:Biopsy; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome