[Appendicitis in the last decade of the 20th century--Analysis of two prospective multicenter clinical observational studies].
OBJECTIVE
The authors present an accurate and comprehensive snapshot of appendicitis in the last decade of the 20 (th) century. The present study also aims to determine the influence of introduction of laparoscopic techniques on the quality of appendicitis therapy.


METHODS
All consecutive patients admitted for suspected appendicitis were recruited into this prospective multicenter study. Two different periods of time were considered: from 1. 7. 1988 to 31. 12. 1989, 6 266 patients from 18 hospitals were included, and from 1. 6. 1996 to 31. 5. 1997, 7 398 patients from 34 institutions.


RESULTS
In the first period (1988/89), 1 869 patients were treated conservatively (29.8 %), 4 397 (70.2 %) were operated. Histopathological analysis of the appendix documented no acute inflammation in 28.8 %, the perforation rate was 8.3 % and the wound infection rate 9.6 %. In the second period (1996/97), 2 430 patients were treated conservatively (32.8 %), in 24.9 % of all operated cases, the histopathological examination shows no acute inflammation of the appendix, the perforation rate was 5.9 % and the rate of wound infections 2.5 %. During this second period, 33.2 % of all appendectomies were performed using the laparoscope, the conversion rate was 7.2 %.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of laparoscopic techniques did not modify the operative indications for treatment of appendicitis. An increase in the number of normal appendices removed was not observed. The number of perforations and the incidence of wound infections was significantly reduced in the second period.
Koch
A
A
An-Institut für Qualitätssicherung in der operativen Medizin gGmbH, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Germany. Andreas.Koch@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
Marusch
F
F
Schmidt
U
U
Gastinger
I
I
Lippert
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data