Acute appendicitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
BACKGROUND
We report our experience with patients who had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and who presented with signs and symptoms suggesting acute appendicitis.


METHODS
Observational data are documented for 9 patients with AIDS who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis.


RESULTS
Of the 9 patients, 6 (66.7%) had acute appendicitis without perforation, while the other 3 (33.3%) had perforated appendicitis. An elevated preoperative temperature was found in 4 patients without perforation (66.7%), and in 1 patient with perforation (33.3%). An elevated white blood cell count was found in all 6 patients without perforation (100%), but in none with perforation (0%). The mean interval from surgical referral to laparotomy was 61.1 hours, the mean hospital stay was 9.3 days, and the perioperative mortality rate was 22.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience should alert emergency medical staff who care for AIDS patients to the need for early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment of appendicitis.
Liu
Kuo-Ying
KY
Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
Shyu
Jia-Fwu
JF
Uen
Yih-Huei
YH
Chen
Tien-Hua
TH
Shyr
Yi-Ming
YM
Su
Cheng-Hsi
CH
Wu
Chew-Wun
CW
Lui
Wing-Yui
WY
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged