title: Acute appendicitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Kuo-Ying
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-Fwu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Yih-Huei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Uen
authors.forename: Tien-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shyr
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Chew-Wun
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wing-Yui
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lui
mesh_terms: 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