title: Short hospital stay after appendicectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the applicability of short hospital stay after appendicectomy in rural and semi-urban Nigerian community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 30-month prospective study on patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis was carried out The age ranged from 5-70 years, mean of 28.7 years, there was almost even sex distribution between male and female. All the patients presented with clinical evidences of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operative findings were inflamed and oedematous appendix in about 80%, minimal exudates drained in only about 25% of the patients. Postoperative wound complications occurred in 1.3-5% of patients. All the postoperative complications were successfully managed in the outpatient clinic. 71.8% were discharged on the 2nd postoperative day, 20.5% on 3rd postoperative day, 4 (5%) on 4th postoperative day and 1(1.3%) each on 5th and 7th day. There was postoperative pain tolerance and late mobilisation in those who stayed for 3-4 days; moderately severe wound infection was responsible for those who stayed for 5th- 7th day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short hospital stay after appendicectomy was possible in majority of patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis. Minimal postoperative fluid therapy and antibiotic administration was adequate in well-selected cases.
authors: Dept of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo Universitty, Ile-Ife. Nigeria. adesunkanmi@yahoo.com
authors: A R K
authors: AR
authors: Adesunkanmi
authors: T A
authors: TA
authors: Badmus
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Onakpoya
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult