Recurrent acute / chronic appendicitis an independent clinical entity

ABSTRACT

A multicenter descriptive study was carried out at CMH Abbottabad and PAF Hospital Sargodha. [Both hospitals are secondary referral centers] to determine whether chronic and recurrent appendicitis really exist in our population or not. Duration of study was from Feb 1996 to May 2001. All patients who underwent appendicectomy were included in the study and were divided into two groups, Group A with first episode of appendicitis and Group B with 2 or more episodes of abdominal pain. The patients were followed up for the relief of symptoms and this was assessed against the histological evidence of appendicitis. A total of 525 patients were included in the study out of which 67 had recurrent abdominal pain that was relieved after appendicectomy. The no of patients operated for recurrent abdominal pain fell with each passing year at both centers. However the annual number of patients undergoing appendicectomy remained same throughout the study period at both centers. It is concluded that in the evaluation of a patient with abdominal pain, a history of prior similar episodes of pain should never dissuade one from considering the diagnosis of recurrent acute appendicitis or chronic appendicitis